Federalism Defined and Contrasted

What is one primary responsibility of the national government in a federal system?

In federal systems, both levels of government are elected by the people.

What document defines the powers of the federal and state governments?

Subnational governments, also known as _____ governments, handle regional matters.

Match the level of government with their responsibilities:

Which of the following is a characteristic of federal systems?

Each level of government operates completely independently from the other in a federal system.

How many amendments have been added to the American Constitution since its creation?

Federalism Defined and Contrasted

Federalism is an institutional arrangement creating two autonomous levels of government, each acting directly on behalf of the people with authority from the national constitution.
Five common structural characteristics exist across today's federal systems, including Germany and Mexico.
First, federal systems establish two levels of government, each with specific responsibilities. National governments handle country-wide issues like national defense and economic prosperity. Subnational governments (e.g., states) manage regional matters like education, healthcare, and public safety.
Second, different levels of government must cooperate to resolve shared issues.
In the U.S. federal system, the national government (president and Congress) handles national issues. State governments (with governors and legislatures) handle state-level matters,elected officials at each level.
The U.S. federal system demonstrates a separation of responsibilities between federal and state leaders.
A written national constitution, requiring substantial agreement from subnational governments to be amended, is a characteristic of all federal systems.

Explore the concept of federalism and how it establishes two levels of government that operate independently yet cooperatively. This quiz discusses the roles of national and subnational governments in various federal systems, including examples from the U.S., Germany, and Mexico. Test your understanding of the structural characteristics of federalism.