Which constitutional principle describes the division of powers between national and state governments?

Which constitutional principle describes the division of powers between national and state governments?

• A. Separation of powers
• B. Checks and balances
• C. Federalism
• D. Popular sovereignty

Answer: (C)

Federalism is the idea that authority is divided between a national government and regional governments. In the United States, the Constitution assigns certain powers to the national level (like defending the country and regulating interstate commerce) and reserves other powers to the states (such as running elections and managing local matters). Some powers are shared, and the national government’s laws trump conflicting state laws due to the Supremacy Clause, though states still hold significant authority in areas not granted to the national government. This arrangement shows how sovereignty is split between different levels of government, ensuring both national unity and local autonomy. The other concepts refer to different structural ideas: separation of powers focuses on how government duties are divided among branches at the national level; checks and balances describe how those branches limit each other; popular sovereignty is about the people as the ultimate source of government authority.

Federalism is the idea that authority is divided between a national government and regional governments. In the United States, the Constitution assigns certain powers to the national level (like defending the country and regulating interstate commerce) and reserves other powers to the states (such as running elections and managing local matters). Some powers are shared, and the national government’s laws trump conflicting state laws due to the Supremacy Clause, though states still hold significant authority in areas not granted to the national government. This arrangement shows how sovereignty is split between different levels of government, ensuring both national unity and local autonomy.

The other concepts refer to different structural ideas: separation of powers focuses on how government duties are divided among branches at the national level; checks and balances describe how those branches limit each other; popular sovereignty is about the people as the ultimate source of government authority.