What is the term for a system in which strong regional governments share power with a central government?

• A. Unitary State
• B. Confederation
• C. Federal Government
• D. Decentralized Authority

Answer: (C)

Federalism is the system where strong regional governments share power with a central government. In this setup, the constitution assigns clear authorities to both levels, so the central government handles nationwide issues like defense and currency, while regional governments manage local matters such as education and policing. Both levels operate with constitutional backing and can act directly on citizens within their spheres. This differs from a unitary state, where national authority is dominant and regional bodies exist mainly to implement central policy; a confederation, where the central authority is weak and states retain most sovereignty; and from a vague notion of decentralized authority, which doesn’t specify a formal constitutional division of powers.