What principle ensures that power is divided between national and state governments?

• A. Checks and Balances
• B. Separation of Powers
• C. Federalism
• D. Individual Rights

Answer: (C)

Federalism is the principle that divides power between national and state governments. The U.S. Constitution lays out what the national government can do (like defending the nation and regulating interstate commerce) and reserves other powers to the states, with the Tenth Amendment making clear that powers not delegated to the federal government belong to the states or the people. The Supremacy Clause also shows that national law can override state law where there is a conflict, while still keeping state authority in areas not granted to the federal government. This arrangement lets the national government handle issues that affect the country as a whole while allowing states to manage local matters, which fits the concept of power being shared across different levels of government. The other ideas describe how government operates within one level or protect individual rights, but they don’t explain the sharing of power between national and state governments.