1. In a federal system such as that of the United States, citizens engage in governance by electing representatives across various tiers: local, state, and national. This framework facilitates a distribution of power among different governmental levels, ensuring that the voices of citizens resonate across multiple platforms. Conversely, in a confederation, authority is predominantly vested in local governments, resulting in a comparatively weaker central authority. Here, citizens exert a more immediate influence over their local administrations, which wield the majority of governing power. While this arrangement can foster significant local autonomy, it may also encounter challenges related to national cohesion and coordination. In a unitary system, the central government retains the bulk of the power, with local governments exercising minimal autonomy. Citizens primarily engage with the central authority, which is responsible for most decision-making processes. This can lead to more consistent policies but may also diminish local representation. 2. The concept of power distribution, commonly known as the separation of powers, entails allocating governmental authority among distinct branches to avert the concentration of power within any single branch. This typically encompasses the legislative branch, responsible for law-making; the executive branch, tasked with law enforcement; and the judicial branch, which interprets laws. Such a system promotes a balance of power and incorporates checks and balances, enabling each branch to restrict the powers of the others, thereby fostering accountability and mitigating the risk of power abuses. For a visual representation of this concept, one may refer to a TED-Ed video that elucidates the division of power within the United States government, detailing the roles and functions of each branch and their interactions through checks and balances. 3. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government exerted considerable influence over the actions of New York state and local authorities through a variety of measures. The federal government allocated significant financial resources to New York via several relief packages, which included funding for healthcare, unemployment assistance, and other forms of support.