What is the purpose of federalism in the U.S. government?

• A. It divides power between the national and state governments to balance national and local interests and prevent concentration of power.
• B. It gives all power to the national government.
• C. It gives all power to the states.
• D. It eliminates local government.

Answer: (A)

Federalism means sharing sovereignty between the national government and the states. The purpose is to balance national needs with local autonomy and to prevent too much power from being concentrated in one place. The Constitution assigns certain powers to the national government (like defense and interstate commerce) and reserves others for the states (such as education and local law), with room for both to operate in areas of shared authority. This arrangement also lets states act as laboratories of democracy, trying policies that fit their communities while maintaining national standards when needed. So, dividing power to balance national and local interests and prevent concentration of power best captures the idea. Giving all power to the national government, all power to the states, or eliminating local government would undermine this balance.