Which term describes the division of power between the national government and the states?

• A. Checks and balances
• B. Separation of powers
• C. Federalism
• D. Popular sovereignty

Answer: (C)

Federalism describes how authority is divided between the national government and the states. The Constitution assigns some powers to the national level (such as defense and regulating interstate trade) and reserves others for the states (like education and local law enforcement). States and the national government can also work together on shared issues, and national law can take precedence in areas specified by the Constitution, while states retain power in areas not delegated to the national government. This concept explains why powers aren’t held by just one level of government, but are distributed across both. It’s different from checks and balances (which deals with how the branches limit each other), separation of powers (how those branches split responsibilities), and popular sovereignty (the people as the source of governmental authority).