Which system divides power between national and state governments?

• A. Unitarianism
• B. Monarchy
• C. Federalism
• D. Confederalism

Answer: (C)

Federalism is the system that divides power between national and state governments. In a federal setup, the national government handles broad, nationwide responsibilities, while states manage local matters. The Constitution assigns powers to the national level and reserves others for the states, with federal laws taking precedence in areas the national government controls. This structure lets the country act cohesively on national issues while allowing states to tailor policies to their communities.

Choices that centralize power, like unitarian systems, describe a different approach where regional authorities have little autonomy. A monarchy is about who holds the ruling authority rather than how power is distributed between levels of government. A confederal system places most authority in independent states with a weak central government, which is the opposite of dividing power between national and state levels.