What is the primary feature of a federal government?

The primary feature of a federal government is the concept of shared sovereignty between national and regional governments. In a federal system, power and authority are divided between a central government and various regional governments, such as states or provinces. This structure allows each level of government to operate independently in certain areas while working together in others.

Shared sovereignty means that both the national and regional governments have their own powers and responsibilities, often defined in a constitution. For instance, the national government may handle defense and foreign affairs, while regional governments might manage local education and transportation systems. This division ensures that no single entity has complete control over governance, thus allowing for a system that can accommodate diverse interests and regional differences.

The other options reflect characteristics that do not accurately capture the essence of a federal government. Complete autonomy for states suggests a lack of interaction or dependency on the national government, which contradicts the cooperative nature of federal systems. A centralized power structure would indicate a unitary government rather than a federal one, where most decision-making authority resides at the national level. Lastly, autonomy of local governments lacks the necessary context of shared governance found in federalism, as local authorities typically derive their powers from the state or regional government rather than having a distinct relationship with the national government.