Federalism
A combination of a general government with regional governments in a single political system
Real World Example
Federalism in the context of the U.S. Constitution meant dividing power between the national government and state governments, responding to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles had given too much power to the states, leading to a lack of unity and ineffective governance. Federalism was important to ensure a balanced system where both levels of government could address different issues effectively. Today, federalism matters because it allows states to make decisions on local issues, like education, while the national government handles larger issues, like defense. For example, if your state decides to improve its schools by allocating more funds, that's federalism in action, directly impacting your education and future opportunities.
