There are differences in the role of citizens in government among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems. The main difference being that there are different levels to how citizens can have a direct say or influence. The federal system gives citizens a greater range of opportunities for being involved. The unitary systems offer the least amount of direct citizen interaction. Confederations are in between.

I understand that the system of division of power are broken up into three parts. Federal system, unitary system, and confederation system. They each have a different representation of the parts they play in balancing authority. They each come with pros and cons. The federal system shares its power between a central government and state government. The unitary system has a strong central government that controls weaker division. The confederation system has a weak central government and strong member states that can choose whether they want to follow their lead or not.

The federal government shapes the actions of state and local governments by

-setting mandates and setting regulations.

-creating legislations that states have to follow.

-federal, state and local governments working together on specific global issues.

-providing funding and having grants.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided a lot of financial assistance thankfully. There was money for most of those in need or struggling due to financial hardship that the pandemic brought upon everyone. There were also mandates and regulations set during this time. There was a mask mandate that went into effect and everyone for a very long time had to wear a mask out in public or when entering public areas like train stations, stores and restaurants. 

1.Describe the primary differences in the role of citizens in government, among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems.

In a unitary system, authority is concentrated in central government. Federation, authority is divided between central and state governments and his derived from the people. Confederation authority is concentrated in states.

2.Briefly explain how you understand the system of division of power.

To my understanding to have a successful running government there has to be a division of powers to execute the fairness for all people. 3 Government branches. The first being the legislative branch. Where there is two senators from each state therefore making it even more equal for us the people to have a voice. The senators are going to voice what’s in the best interest of their state. The second being executive branch which has everything to do with the president. The third being the judicial branch which has everything to do with our courts. The division of powers had to be done so no branch feels more powerful than the other. When one branch makes a decision all the other branches would have to agree, following a process and as I mentioned having senators from each state voicing their opinion of their best interests for their states, making it fair in lawmaking because it’s not only up to one person but us as a whole, the American people.

3.How does the federal government shape the actions of state and local governments? Write your answer based on doing a bit of research on how the federal government has influenced the actions of NY state and local governments, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal government primarily shapes the actions of state and local governments by distributing grants, imposing mandates and setting national standards, which often come with funding attached, thereby influencing how states implement policies in areas like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and environmental protection, essentially “encouraging” states to act in certain ways to access federal funds according to google. One example of this is during the COVID-19 pandemic the federal government were mandating for everyone to get COVID-19 vaccinations if not they were not able to continue working or even allowed in certain establishments without it. This is a perfect example of how federal government tries to control the people. People having no choice but to make that decision of the federal government mandating it because without the vaccinations people would not be able to work and make money to survive and live their life ,so the government make rules for us to follow when they want to shape how they want American to be structured.

1. The relation of the citizens to the government remains considerably different between federal, confederation, and unitary systems; the main precept is, however, the distribution of power. In a federal system, for example, citizens interact with national and regional governments because powers are constitutionally divided, hence giving the people a chance to influence policies at different levels, like in the United States. By contrast, a confederation grants the central government very little authority and most power lies in the regional governments; as such citizens have little contact with or dependence on the central government, which is too weak to influence national decisions forcefully, an example being the early United States government under the Articles of Confederation or the current European Union. Accordingly, in a unitary system, the majority of the
   governing power would lie with a strong central government; citizens normally interact with this central government only, and regional governments typically play a minor role when compared, for example, to the United Kingdom or France. The degree of engagement of the citizens and their consequently exertable influence are related, hence, to a great degree to the structural form of organization of power in each system.
2. Division of power refers to the allocation of authority and responsibility between various levels of government-comprised mainly of central and regional or sub-national -with the purpose of preventing the concentration of power in one hand, as well as ensuring checks and balances. In a federal system, powers are divided in a way that provides for a central government, along with regional or state or provincial governments, each with its own specific responsibilities as assigned by a constitution. This would allow local governance and decision-making mechanisms that may be able to address regional needs yet still be part of a united nation. In the unitary system, power is more centralized within the national government, which holds most of the powers but sometimes devolves some of its powers to local governments. In a confederation, the greater share of powers is possessed by the regional governments, with a very limited system of powers for the central authority. The separation of powers is an important aspect of democratic governance, accountability, and the efficient involvement of the citizens in the management of political affairs to ensure that no single force can monopolize politics.
3. Throughout the crisis, the federal government has played a coercive role in New York state and sub state governments through the provision of crucial funds and setting up health guidelines to guide their responses. For example, federal relief money accorded to states, such as Coronavirus Relief Fund money, was released to New York in order to enable tackling various economic problems; at first, there was some difficulty in the local governments utilizing the funds efficiently. Similarly, federal guidelines forced Governor Andrew Cuomo to use school closures and an order for social distancing as a means to slow down the virus;, first. Of course, this dynamic often put state and local leaders in opposing directions, especially in New York City, as Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Cuomo had very sharp differences over means of lockdowns and public health orders. While the federal guidelines led the way, state officials implemented measures, considering local conditions-a challenging dimension of federalism in crisis management.

1. Citizens vote for who they want their representatives to be on the federal degree. On the confederation degree citizens have more power because the confederation is made up of local governments. The unitary systems of the citizens just leave everything up to the government. 
2. I understand the division of power by who makes the law is the legislative branch, the people who enforce the law are the executive branch, and the judicial branch interprets the law.
3. The federal government shapes the actions and local government by mandating things or rules. Like during Covid-19 pandemic they mandated we wear masks outside, stay 6 feet apart to prevent the spread. As well as we all went into quarantine they didn’t want people outside. That also goes for the covid vaccine they said will prevent catching it. They made it where they would give 100 dollars if you got the vaccine. So it persuaded people to get it.    

Describe the primary differences in the role of citizens in government, among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems.

The differences in the role of citizens between government, federal, confederation and unitary systems are citizens among federal, citizens can vote. With the confederation system, citizens relie on their local government such as police to take control. Citizens leave the control to be taken by government within the unitary system.

Briefly explain how you understand the system of division of power.

Understanding the system of division of power that is known our government is broken down into three categories, legislative, executive and judicial. Legislative consists of 100 U.S Senators and 435 House Representatives. As these individuals are represented as the U.S Congress, they are known for making laws, approving federal judges, federal justices, passing the national budget and declaring war. Executive consists of the president and Vice President. Both enforce laws that congress sets along with working with their cabinet to make discussions upon defense, treasure and homeland security. They also appoint government officials, commands arm forces and meet with other nations. Judicial consists of all courts including federal district courts and the U.S supreme. For the Supreme Court, 9 Justices are appointed for life as they settle state disputes, hears court appeals and determines if laws are constitutional. Both courts interpret laws and punishes those who breaks them.

How does the federal government shape the actions of state and local governments? Write your answer based on doing a bit of research on how the federal government has influenced the actions of NY state and local governments, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal government shapes the actions of state and local governments by federal government gives out distribution of grants, incentives and aid. Federal government throughout locals give them the opportunity to solve common problems such as funding and education. They’re main responsibilities are to manage public services such as parks, libraries, schools, police and fire services. 

1. The primary differences in the roles of citizens for federal, confederation, and unitary system. Citizens have a role in choosing representatives at a national and state level. A confederation system the citizens have a stronger tie to respective states than to a central authority, meaning citizens have great limitations to the engagement with the central government, this is due to the member states holding more authority. Unitary system citizens have a unified engagement with the government since the decision is centrally controlled.
2. The division of powers refers to how responsibilities and authority is divided amongst the different branches and levels of government, they divide power amongst each other to assure that no group holds authority over one another.
3. The federal government held influential actions at a state and local level, the federal government used actions through the CDC to provide guidelines through public health measures, for example, they put mandates on masks, the encouraged and required a 6 feet social distancing, and very stern on the quarantine mandates. Another example of how the federal government held influential actions would be the provision of financial aid to local government and states to help manage the economic and health impacts for the pandemic, they also help distribute medical Supplies as well as equipment.

In specific styles of government, the jobs of residents change. In a federal system, the country’s broad authorities and smaller nation governments proportion electricity, meaning residents may have a say in each level. In a confederation, the maximum amount of electricity is held with the aid of the states, so residents, on the whole, get worried on the national level. In a unitary system, the country-wide authorities have all the electricity, and residents best affect neighborhood authorities’ decisions. Federal structures ensure stability among the country-wide and national governments, encouraging human beings to be lively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal authorities prompted what states and neighborhood regions should do, like giving suggestions and money and assisting with vaccines. For example, New York ought to make its rules. However, it has become tormented by federal suggestions and support, displaying how federal and national governments paint together, especially in emergencies.

1. Within a federal system such as the United States, the citizens’ roles can vary and engage in both national and state governments through being able to vote in elections that affect them on both levels. Within a confederation, the citizens are mainly supposed to interact with or in regional governments considering that most power will reside in that since the central authority is weaker. In a unitary system, the central government holds the primary power and citizens have to deal with the consequences of that. Local governments if they do exist are given limited autonomy to do as they please. 

2. The division of power in federal systems particularly refers to the split authority between the national level and state level. Within these kinds of systems, there are certain responsibilities given to each government such as handling defense against the nation, education, law enforcement, etc. Having this delegation of responsibilities like this ensures that there are no imbalances of power like one branch of government having any significant power over another.

3. The federal government was able to shape the actions of state and local governments through specifically funding and adding additional policies/guidelines to control the situation. Federal agencies, specifically the CDC had issued health guidelines for the public to follow to avoid any contact with the virus. New York had also used mask mandates and social distancing in recommendation to these federal guidelines as it tried to contain and repress the virus.

1. Reflecting on the different systems of government and how they shape the role of citizens is an interesting exercise. In a federal system, such as the one we have in the United States, I’ve always appreciated the way power is shared between the central government and individual states. As a citizen, this dual structure gives me the opportunity to influence both national policies, through voting for federal representatives like the president and members of Congress, and state-specific policies by electing local governors and legislators. This division makes me feel more connected to the governance at different levels, and I can see the direct impact my votes have on issues that affect my state and community. On the other hand, thinking about a confederation system, where the central government has limited power and states hold most of the authority, the role of citizens seems more focused on state governance. I imagine that, in such a system, my interaction with the central government would be minimal, and most of my concerns would be addressed at the state or regional level. This is quite different from what I experience in the federal system, where the federal government plays a significant role in many aspects of daily life. In a unitary system, like in France, where power is concentrated in the central government, citizens primarily engage with national-level governance, with local governments functioning as administrative branches. I think I would feel less connected to local government under such a system because most decisions would be made centrally, leaving less autonomy for local adaptation.
2. The division of power in a federal system ensures a balance that prevents one level of government from becoming too dominant. I appreciate this, especially when I see collaboration between state and federal governments on issues like healthcare or education. Each level has distinct responsibilities, but they also must work together. This balance of power is essential because it allows states to have control over issues that are specific to their regions while still being part of a unified national framework. For instance, education is mostly a state responsibility, but federal guidelines and funding often play a crucial role in shaping policies.
3. The federal government’s influence on state and local governments was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. I remember how federal guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shaped New York’s public health response. The federal government provided critical resources such as medical supplies, ventilators, and financial support through programs like the CARES Act. This federal assistance was key in helping New York manage the overwhelming pressure on its healthcare system. However, I also noticed that New York state took a leading role in implementing stricter lockdowns and public health measures compared to the broader federal guidelines. This dynamic between state and federal authority during the pandemic showed me the strength of a federal system. While federal support was crucial, New York’s government was able to adapt its response to meet the needs of its population. It highlighted how states can take initiative while still benefiting from federal resources and guidance, striking a balance between local autonomy and national unity in times of crisis.