What constitutional principle divides power between national and state governments?

What constitutional principle divides power between national and state governments?

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

Answer: (B)

Federalism is the arrangement that divides power between the national and state governments. The Constitution sets out powers for the national government, powers reserved to the states, and powers that can be shared. This structure allows the country to act with national unity on issues that affect everyone while letting states handle local needs and experiments in policy. The Supremacy Clause ensures national laws and the Constitution take priority when there’s a conflict, while the Tenth Amendment reserves any powers not delegated to the national government for the states or the people.

Other terms describe different ideas: separation of powers is about how government duties are split among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; popular sovereignty is the principle that the people are the source of governmental authority; checks and balances describes how those branches limit each other’s power. Federalism specifically addresses the division of authority between national and state levels.