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

• A. Federalism.
• B. Monarchy.
• C. Autocracy.
• D. Unitary system.

Answer: (A)

Federalism describes how authority is shared between the national and state governments. In this arrangement, both levels have defined powers: the national government handles areas like defense, currency, and foreign policy, while the states manage local matters such as education and policing within constitutional limits. The Tenth Amendment reinforces this by reserving powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people, and the Supremacy Clause means federal law takes precedence when necessary. This division allows a strong central policy on nationwide issues while preserving local autonomy to handle regional needs. By contrast, a monarchy or autocracy concentrates power in one ruler, and a unitary system centralizes power at the national level with limited local authority. Therefore, the division described is federalism.