What is federalism?

• A. A centralized national government holds all authority.
• B. Power is shared equally among states only.
• C. Division of power between the national and state governments.
• D. Only local governments determine policy.

Answer: (C)

Federalism means dividing power between a national government and state governments. In this setup, the national government handles issues that affect the whole country (like defense and interstate matters), while states manage local concerns (such as education and policing), with some powers shared between both levels. This arrangement keeps national unity while allowing local autonomy.

That’s why describing power as divided between the national and state governments is the best fit for federalism. Descriptions of a single centralized authority or of power resting only at the local level don’t capture the two-tier structure federalism uses, and the idea of power shared only among states ignores the national responsibilities.