Federalism: Shared Power

Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and smaller political units, such as states. In the United States, federalism allows both the national and state governments to make laws and govern the people.

This shared power means that some responsibilities, like education and transportation, can be managed at the state level, while others, like defense and foreign affairs, are handled by the federal government. Federalism helps to create a balance between local control and national unity.