What is federalism?

• A. Division of power between national and state governments.
• B. A single centralized government.
• C. The power of the people to rule directly.
• D. The separation of church and state.

Answer: (A)

Federalism means power is divided between the national government and state governments, with each level having its own areas of authority and some shared powers. This setup keeps the country unified while letting states handle local needs. For example, the national government typically deals with issues like defense and currency, while states manage education and local laws. It isn’t a single centralized government—that would be a unitary system. It isn’t about people ruling directly themselves, which would be direct democracy. And it isn’t specifically about church and state separation, which is about religious liberty and government establishment.