1. In a federal system like the United States, citizens have roles at both the national and state levels. This means that power is shared between the federal government and the states. The federal government takes care of big issues that affect the whole country, like national defense and foreign policy. Meanwhile, state governments handle local matters such as education and transportation. In a confederation, the situation is different because the central government is weaker, and most of the power lies with the individual states. This allows states to make their own decisions without much interference. On the other hand, in a unitary system, the central government holds most of the power, and local governments have limited roles. Here, citizens mainly interact with the central government, which makes decisions for the entire country.

2. The division of power is about how responsibilities are split among different levels of government to keep things balanced. In a federal system, this means dividing tasks between the national and state governments. The national government handles broad issues like immigration and currency, while state governments focus on local concerns like schools and roads. This setup allows for more localized decision-making, which can be better suited to address the specific needs of different communities. It also prevents any one part of the government from becoming too powerful by ensuring that each level has its own set of powers and duties.

3. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government played an important role in shaping how New York state and local governments responded. One major way it did this was by providing funding to help manage the crisis. This included money for healthcare systems, testing, and vaccine distribution. The federal government also issued public health guidelines, like recommendations for social distancing and mask-wearing, which influenced how states like New York responded to the pandemic. Additionally, emergency declarations from the federal level allowed states to access resources and support more quickly. Overall, the federal government’s actions helped guide New York’s response and ensured that state and local governments had the tools they needed to protect their citizens.