What defines the federal system of governance?

The federal system of governance is characterized by the division of powers and responsibilities between a central national government and regional governments, such as states or provinces. This structure allows both levels of government to operate independently in certain areas while also working collaboratively in others.

In this system, the national government typically has authority over issues that affect the country as a whole, such as defense, immigration, and foreign relations, while regional governments may handle local matters like education, transportation, and law enforcement. This dual governance structure is designed to balance the power between different levels of authority, ensuring that both national and regional interests can be represented and managed. As a result, citizens can participate in governance at multiple levels, which can promote more localized decision-making.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of federalism. A centralized authority with no regional input would describe a unitary system, independent states without a central authority would depict a confederation, and a system with local governments having total control suggests decentralization rather than a balanced federal structure.