Which term describes the division of power between national and state governments?

• A. Checks and Balances
• B. Federalism
• C. Separation of Powers
• D. Sovereignty

Answer: (B)

Federalism is the system that divides power between the national government and state governments. It lets the national government handle nationwide concerns like defense and foreign affairs, while states manage local matters such as schools and traffic laws. The Constitution sets national powers and reserves others to the states, with some powers shared between both levels. When national and state laws clash, the national law prevails due to the Supremacy Clause. This structure helps keep the country unified yet allows states to address local needs. The other terms describe different ideas: checks and balances is about how the branches of the national government limit each other; separation of powers refers to distributing powers among the branches; sovereignty means ultimate authority, either of a state or a nation, not the division of powers within a federal system.