1. Differences in the Role of Citizens in Government
• Federal System: In a federal system, citizens have a say in government at multiple levels such as national, state, and local. Each level has its own powers, and citizens can vote for leaders at all these levels.
• Confederation System: In a confederation, the central government has little power, and the states or regions hold most of the control. Citizens are more involved in local or state governments, and the central government has limited influence over them.
• Unitary System: In a unitary system, the central government holds most of the power, and local governments have very limited authority. Citizens usually participate in local elections, but the national government has the final say.
2. The division of power is how the authority is shared between different levels of government, like national and state governments. In a federal system, powers are clearly divided—some are for the national government, and others are for the states. In a unitary system, most of the power is held by the national government, while in a confederation, the states have most of the power, and the central government has very little authority.
3. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government affected New York State and its local governments in many ways. For example:
Financial Help: The federal government gave money to New York through programs like the CARES Act to help with healthcare costs, unemployment, and supporting businesses.
Health Guidelines: The CDC gave advice on things like social distancing and mask-wearing, which influenced how New York handled the pandemic, including when to reopen businesses or schools.
Mandates: The federal government also helped with vaccine distribution and sent the National Guard to help, which guided how New York carried out its own plans for vaccinations and public health efforts.
So, while New York had control over local decisions, the federal government provided resources and guidance that shaped how things were done in the state and local areas.