The involvement of citizens in government can change a lot based on whether a country uses a federal, confederation, or unitary system. This is mainly because of how power is divided among different levels of government. In a federal system, like in the United States, Canada, or Germany, power is shared between a national government and regional governments, such as states or provinces. Citizens have the chance to participate in government at various levels. They can vote in national elections for leaders like the president or members of Congress, as well as in state elections for governors and state lawmakers. Additionally, they can take part in local elections for mayors and city councils. Sometimes, citizens even get to vote directly on specific policies through referenda. This system allows people to push for different policies at different levels of government. On the other hand, a confederation is a loose group of independent states that give limited power to a weaker central authority. Examples from history include the Articles of Confederation in the early United States and the European Union. In a confederation, citizens mainly interact with their state or regional governments since the central government has very little power. The national government doesn’t directly control individuals; it operates through the states. This means that citizens might have different rights and responsibilities based on their state’s laws, as there isn’t always a consistent policy across the board. In modern confederations like the European Union, citizens can vote for their national governments and also for representatives in a limited central government, like the European Parliament. In a unitary system, the central government has most or all of the governing power, while local governments mainly serve as administrative branches. This means that local governments don’t have much independence and follow the rules set by the central authority.

The division of power is about how authority is shared among different levels of government. This idea is really important for how a country is run because it helps make sure that no one group has all the power. In a federal system, for example, power is split between the national government and state governments, each having their own specific jobs. The national government handles things like defense and foreign affairs, while states take care of education and local laws. They also share some responsibilities, like taxation and law enforcement. In the U.S., states manage their own education systems, but the federal government supports them with funding and guidelines. On the other hand, in a confederation, the states keep most of the power, and the central government has very little authority, often relying on the states to work together on issues like trade. An example of this is the Articles of Confederation, where the federal government couldn’t collect taxes or enforce laws. In a unitary system, the central government has all the power and can give some authority to local governments, but it can take it back whenever it wants. For instance, in France, the national government controls major areas like education and healthcare, while local governments handle smaller tasks. The main goal of dividing power in federal and confederation systems is to stop any one group from becoming too powerful, while unitary systems focus more on keeping the country united and running smoothly.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. federal government significantly influenced New York State’s response, primarily through financial support. Relief packages like the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan provided funds for stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, and aid to state and local governments. FEMA also helped cover costs for emergency supplies and temporary hospitals, enabling New York to support healthcare, distribute vaccines, and assist unemployed residents.The federal government set health guidelines that New York initially followed closely, enforcing strict mask and business restrictions. However, New York leaders, including Governor Andrew Cuomo, sometimes implemented even stricter measures, such as early business shutdowns and vaccination mandates for certain workers. The state collaborated with federal agencies to establish large vaccination sites. Additionally, the National Guard was deployed to assist in distributing food and medical supplies and managing testing and vaccination sites, including the Javits Center. This federal support was crucial for New York in navigating the pandemic’s challenges.The federal government played a big role in how New York handled travel and quarantine rules between states. In the summer of 2020, New York teamed up with New Jersey and Connecticut to set up quarantine rules for people coming from states that had a high risk of spreading the virus, following the advice from the federal government. The federal leaders wanted the states to cooperate and create consistent rules instead of having different policies all over the place.