What is the system that divides powers between the national government and the states?

• A. Democracy
• B. Oligarchy
• C. Federalism
• D. Autocracy

Answer: (C)

Federalism is the system that divides powers between the national government and the states. In a federal system, certain powers are given to the national government, others to state governments, and some are shared. The United States Constitution lays out these divisions—for example, Congress handles national issues like coinage, regulating interstate commerce, and defense, while states manage local matters such as schools, policing, and licensing. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states, and the Supremacy Clause says when federal and state laws clash, federal law wins. This arrangement keeps the nation unified while allowing local control where it matters most. The other terms describe who rules (the people, a few, or one) rather than how power is distributed between national and state levels.