Which of the following describes the concept of federalism?

Which of the following describes the concept of federalism?

A) Federalism describes the requirement to desegregate schools.

B) Federalism divides government power between national and state governments.

C) Federalism describes the requirement for the separation of church and state.

D) Federalism divides the powers between Congress and the Senate.

Answer: B) Federalism divides government power between national and state governments.

Federalism on the other hand refers to a system of governance whereby the powers of a particular country are shared between the central government and more subordinate regional or state governments. Indeed, the very concept of the United States Constitution, as the supreme law of this country and political system, directly refers to the federal system of the United States. In a federal system of government, there are the assigned or allotted matters which are within the purview of the central government and there are also those which are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the state governments. This division of power is aimed at guarding national integrity and regulating regionalism that gives powers to states to govern local areas. Federalism helps to prevent the emergence of a central power and state authority as a tyrant or as an overbearing entity with absolute control of powers thus it acts as a check and balances system for the protection of individual freedom. The other given options do not fit well when describing the principles of federalism.