1.
Under a federal system (like in the U.S.), individuals have duties at multiple levels—local, state, and national—because power is shared. Under a confederation, the majority of power is in the hands of the states, so individuals largely deal with their state governments. Under a unitary system, the majority of power is in the national government, and individuals largely deal with national-level issues, with minimal local inputs.

2.
Separation of power is meant to divide power among various levels of government—chiefly the state and federal governments. Both have their areas of specialization: for example, the federal government handles national defense and immigration, while states handle education and local law enforcement. This is meant to see to it that one level of government does not overpower any other level.

3.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government influenced New York on both the funding and directive fronts. It gave New York billions of dollars in funding through packages like the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan that financed hospitals, unemployment benefits, and vaccine distribution. The CDC also issued national directives (like mask mandates and phases for reopening), which New York copied or adapted into its state policies. Federal control was also linked to money—if the state did not follow certain guidelines, it might lose funding.