Define federalism and give an example of its application in U.S. governance.

• A. It is the division of powers between national and state governments; for example, state control of elections while the federal government handles national defense.
• B. The division of powers between national and state governments; this division limits all government activity to the states.
• C. It is the concentration of all governmental power in the national government.
• D. It refers to the division of power between the executive and legislative branches.

Answer: (B)

Federalism is the division of powers between national and state governments, so authority is shared across levels and each can govern in its own sphere. An example is having the federal government handle national defense while states run elections and manage many local matters. This setup keeps national needs coordinated with local realities and prevents either level from having unchecked power. The other descriptions mix up concepts: saying all government activity is limited to the states ignores the national role; claiming all power is in the national government describes centralization; and dividing power between the executive and legislative branches refers to separation of powers within one level, not federalism.