What is federalism?

• A. A system where governmental power is divided between national and state governments.
• B. A system where governmental power is divided between local and state governments.
• C. A system where power is concentrated in the national government.
• D. A system where power is shared only by municipalities.

Answer: (A)

Federalism is the division of governmental authority between a national government and regional governments, so both levels have powers they can exercise. In practice, the national government handles areas like defense and foreign policy, while states manage local matters such as schools and policing, with some powers shared or overlapping. This structure prevents either level from having all the power and allows different policies to fit local needs while maintaining national unity. The other descriptions don’t fit because they either leave out the national level, place too much power in one central authority, or focus only on local governments without a national framework.