What is the sharing of power between national and state governments called?

• A. Unitary system
• B. Federalism
• C. Confederation
• D. Monarchy

Answer: (B)

Power sharing between national and state governments is described by federalism. Federalism divides sovereignty so both levels can govern within their own spheres. In the United States, the Constitution specifies certain powers for the national government, reserves others to the states through the Tenth Amendment, and allows shared powers in areas like taxation and law enforcement. The Supremacy Clause means federal law overrides state law when there’s a conflict, while states retain authority over local matters such as education and local policing. This setup lets the nation act on broad issues like national defense and interstate commerce, while letting states tailor policies to their communities. By contrast, a unitary system concentrates power in a central government, a confederation emphasizes weak central authority with strong state powers, and monarchy refers to rule by a king or queen, not a framework for shared power.