Under which principle do power and governance be divided between national and state governments?

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

Answer: (C)

Federalism is the arrangement in which power and governance are divided between national and state governments, allowing both levels to govern within their own spheres. The national government handles powers listed in the Constitution (such as defense and foreign policy), while states retain powers not delegated to the national government (like education and local law enforcement), with the Tenth Amendment clarifying that remaining powers go to the states or the people. This setup balances nationwide cohesion with local autonomy and can include shared or concurrent powers as needed. Other ideas describe different structures: separation of powers is about dividing government functions among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; popular sovereignty is the idea that the people grant government authority; checks and balances refers to how each branch can limit the others.