What best describes federalism?

Federalism is best described as a system in which power is divided and shared between the national and state governments. This structure allows for the distribution of authority and responsibilities, ensuring that multiple levels of government can operate within their own domains while also cooperating on matters of national concern.

In a federal system, certain powers are allocated to the national government, such as defense and immigration, while other powers are reserved for the states, such as education and transportation. This division helps to balance the governance and allows states to address local issues more effectively.

The other options present different concepts that do not accurately capture the essence of federalism. For example, a strong national government might refer to a unitary system where power is centralized, which contradicts the principle of shared authority found in federalism. Similarly, the notion of local governments having absolute power or a national government without state powers does not align with the fundamental principles of federalism, which emphasize a balanced distribution of power across various levels of government.