Federalism is a mode of government that combines a general level of government (a central or federal government) with a regional level of sub-unit governments (e.g., provinces, states, cantons, territories, etc.), while dividing the powers of …

Federalism is a question, not an answer. It is indeed the singular question in American history: When should the American people address a policy problem with a local or a national answer? It’s the one debate that never goes away. Pick any decade from 1776 onwards, and it reappears, just clothed in a new contest about a new policy imperative. No matter whether it’s novel policy …

Jul 31, 2025 · Federalism, mode of political organization that unites separate states or other polities within an overarching political system in a way that allows each to maintain its own integrity. Learn more about the history and characteristics of federalism in this article.

The word “federal” is derived from the Latin word foedus, meaning covenant, pact, or treaty. Federalism is both a principle and a form of government.

Another basic concept embodied in the Constitution is federalism, which refers to the division and sharing of power between the national and state governments. 1

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution describes specific powers which belong to the federal government. These powers are referred to as enumerated powers. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers to the states, as long as those powers are not …

Mar 2, 2023 · Today federalism is defined as a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and a number of constituent territorial units. The different levels of government within our federal system are the national, state, county, town or …

Jan 5, 2003 · Federalism is the theory or advocacy of federal principles for dividing powers between member units and common institutions.

Federalism is a system of government where the same territory is shared by different levels of government. In the United States, there is a sharing and division of power over the nation between the federal government and the state governments.

The maze of national and state regulations results from federalism — the decision made by the Founders to split power between state and national governments. As James Madison explained in the "Federalist Papers," our government is "neither wholly national nor wholly federal."