1. Differences in the Role of Citizens in Government Systems: 
In a federal system, power is divided between national and state governments, with citizens having roles at both levels. They elect representatives for both state and federal offices, influencing policies at multiple levels.  
In a confederation, the central government has limited power, with most authority resting in individual states. Citizens primarily engage with their state governments, which have more control over laws and policies.  
In a unitary system, power is centralized in the national government, and local governments operate under its authority. Citizens primarily influence government through national elections, as local governments have limited autonomy.  

2. Understanding the Division of Power: 
The division of power refers to how responsibilities and authority are distributed between different levels of government—federal, state, and local. In a federal system like the U.S., the Constitution outlines which powers belong to the national government (for example defense, foreign policy), state governments (education, public safety, etc.), and shared responsibilities (taxation, law enforcement, etc.). This structure helps balance power and prevent government overreach. 

3. Federal Influence on NY During COVID-19:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government influenced New York’s state and local policies through funding, mandates, and public health guidance. The federal government provided financial relief through the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan, helping businesses, schools, and healthcare systems. Federal agencies like the CDC and FDA set health guidelines on mask mandates, vaccinations, and social distancing, which NY adapted into state policies. Additionally, vaccine distribution was largely managed at the federal level, with New York implementing local strategies for administration. However, there were also tensions, such as debates over school closures and business restrictions, showcasing the complexity of federal-state interactions in crisis management.

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

*By choosing representatives to act on their behalf at the federal and state levels, citizens actively participate in a federal system. The main way that citizens participate in a confederation system is at the state level; the federal government is comparatively weaker and has little power over individual citizens. However, because power is concentrated in the central government, which has considerable influence over decisions that affect the people, citizens have less direct involvement in the system as a whole.

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

*The division of powers system describes how responsibilities of the government are distributed among several branches so that no one branch has excessive authority. Because each branch supervises and restrains the others, this division aids in preserving the balance of power. The division of social classes, in which no one class has complete control over the others and each class has differing degrees of wealth, power, and resources, could be compared to this

    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.
*Through financial assistance like grants and aid, the federal government has an impact on state and local policies. By offering financial assistance, bolstering healthcare systems, and guaranteeing vaccine distribution, the federal government significantly influenced the reactions of the state and local governments of New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to help states and local governments manage public health, put safety measures in place, and recover from the crisis, the federal government also passed laws and policies. These steps were crucial in assisting New York and other states in overcoming the obstacles posed by the pandemic

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

In a federal system the power is split between central and state government and the citizens have a “voice”. We vote for state officials and we vote for presidents and such. In a confederation system the power is focused state to state, the main contact for citizens are their state officials and they heavily influence central government decisions. In a unitary system the authority is given to the central government meaning state officials have less power and citizens interact with central government voting in elections. 

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

Division of power is the system we use to divide governmental power nationally and sub-nationally. Our federal government would handle decision that would affect the entire nation, like foreign policy. While our state government handles decisions that would only affect the state, like education. While both handle different areas of the governmental decisions, both are expected to come together whenever it is needed and normally the federal governments say is the last word. 

• 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 heavily influences state decisions. During the COVID-19 pandemic the federal government issued specific rules that every state was to follow like social distancing and only essential workers were to go to work. They were also mask mandates, quarantines, and eventually for vaccines if you wanted to work in certain positions, like in a school. The federal government also helped New York financially with programs like The American Rescue Plan and the COVID relief funds.  

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

Citizens in a federal system participate in both national and local governments since power is divided between them. Since the central government in a confederation has little authority, citizens mostly interact with state or regional administrations. In a unitary system, local government function as extensions of the national government, and citizens primarily participate at the national level.

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

The way authority is distributed across the several government levels-national, state, and local is referred to as the system of division of powers. A central government and regional government share authority is a federal system, and each has distinct duties. In a unitary system, local governments have little power while the central government holds the majority of the authority. In a confederation, the central government has little power while the regional government hold most of the power.

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.

Thought financing, directives, and executive orders, the federal government impacted municipal and state government in New York State during the Covid-19 epidemic. In addition to directing vaccine distribution, the federal government offered financial support through stimulus packages like the CARES act. New York also implemented its own precautions, including make mandates and lockdowns, while adhering to public health guidelines provided by CDC. while the state retained control over certain policies and choices, New York’s response to the crisis was influenced by federal funds and direction.

In a federal system like the US is suppose to be power is divided between national and state governments. Citizens vote for which representatives are elected at different levels like presidents and so forth. However, in a confederation system states hold most power and citizens interact with state governments without the weakness and influence. And within unitary system , the central government have close to all power but citizens are able to interact in a small portion of elections and polices.

Divided power ensures that responsibilities and authority are disturbed across differently levels of government for instance judicial and legislative branches. The US Federal handles governments is the national defense and foreign affairs while the manages education like the DOE which helps with public schooling, college and more as well as transportation. While the local government control things like policing and sanitation like maintaining clean streets or clean ups after weathering.

During Covid the federal government was the shoulder for the people especially in the NYS. The federal government helped to influence the way NYS listened to the information provided to them. To actually oblige to rules and regulations like social distancing and more. The federal government also helped with Federal relief packages including medical help like hospital coverage, unemployment for those who were not able to work, public health guidelines like cdc helping to make the country aware of what’s occurring and how to stay safe, emergency mandates and orders, and lastly deploying temporary resources like temporary hospitals and more.

This demonstrates further that the federal government allows different coordinations between different levels of government. Although the federal government give a lot of support and help citizens a lot it doesn’t overweigh the states and still allow state autonomy decision making.

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

For citizens, they’re the ones that elect others in the federal government. For confederation, the main focus begins with the states and then the national government ( people are relatively involved). And lastly, in the Unitary system citizens are less involved, the central government is more concentrated.

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

From my understanding, the system of division of power means the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful. A perfect example I believe which is somewhat similar but not similar at the same time would be from our previous discussion board whereas social classes are divided into different classes where people have the privilege to be where wealth, resources and influence are unevenly distributed.

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.

I believe one way that the federal government has shape the actions of state and local government is through distribution of grants, aid. By maintaining good programs and healthcare systems and education, the federal government help states and local governments.

Treatment research and public education along with vaccines and taking actions to proare one way the federal government has influences the actions of NY state and local governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided for the local governments with much needed fiscal relief to help them. They also provided more laws to help the nation respond to and to also recover from the pandemic.

1. Main Differences in the Role of Citizens in Government from System to System: 

a. Federal System : 

A federal system (like that of the U.S.) involves the citizens in government at multiple levels, viz., national, state, and local. They can then vote for leaders at these multiple levels: national, state, and local. By this, all these countries penetrate the life of the citizen.

Citizens get to vote for the President and members of Congress (national level) as much as they get to vote for their governors and state lawmakers besides voting for local government officials. This way, they can influence policy decisions on things impacting them locally, statewide, and nationally. 

b. Confederation System:

Thus, citizens typically deal within their state or local government since the central government does not have that much power in a confederation. The states essentially are the most significant players and make the most crucial decisions.

Citizens are more involved with local issues in a confederation since the general government has virtually no control. The states act much more independently from each other. 

c. Unitary System:

In a unitary government, the national government has most of the power concerning local governments. Citizens generally deal with their local governments, which have little power to make independent decisions.

Citizens’ participation is much more oriented toward the national government, since that government controls most aspects of their lives, with local governments expected only to carry out national policy. 

2. Federalism in Circles of Division Power : 

The power to govern in federal systems is shared between national and state governments. Here is how it works: 

National government: These take care of matters affecting the whole country, for example, shielding the country from external threats, outside affairs with other international States, and maintaining the economy of interstate commerce. 

State governments: Some issues are left to the hands of states like managing affairs in their local boundaries, e.g. schools, hospitals, and police. States come with their jurisprudence as long as it does not run counter to federal law. 

Local governments are those household services like public schools, fire departments, and road maintenance. Their authority comes from the state government. 

This division allows different levels of government to focus on certain topics but still address joint problems. However, sometimes, if there is dissension between the two levels, it may even cause confusion or conflict, but generally, there is a balance of power.

3. How the Federal Government Shapes the Actions of State and Local Governments: New York during COVID-19:

During the pandemic, it was a strong federal government that determined how state and local governments would respond to this kitchen crisis: 

Federal Funds Assistance:

The CARES Act appropriated money to state and local governments under federal law, and New York was among them receiving billions to fund pandemic interventions, including being used to pay for healthcare needs, unemployment benefits, and business relief.

Public health recommendations:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of the federal government, prescribed the best practices on how to deal with the pandemic, including wearing masks, observing social distancing, and undergoing quarantine. New York used these guidelines for its policy options such as decisions to close schools and businesses for the containment of the virus.

Federal executive orders:

Such orders affected how New Yorkers and the rest of the states would cope with the pandemic. For example, after the federal government posted guidelines on how to distribute vaccines, it gave the states freedom on how and when to roll out the vaccines to be distributed in their jurisdictions.

Inducement to State Action:

The federal government, as such, would give grants and awards to states that adopt certain standards. Thus, New York would receive additional federal cash if it expanded Medicaid for low-income people to obtain these benefits. Such benefits persuaded States to adopt the model while having a vital backup in financing.

Overall, during the pandemic, the federal government was in control of just about everything New York might have done. The state had the option to choose but got and must continue to draw influence from federal funds, guidelines, and policies. In this way, even powerless governments were harnessed in cooperation on a crisis measure.

1. While analyzing the different forms of government it became evident that the main distinguishing feature is the distribution of power. In a federal system, power is divided between national and state governments, allowing for citizens to be involved at both levels.Example being, citizens are able to elect officials to serve in Congress (national level) as well as state legislatures (state level).The division allowing for larger representation and involvement in both local and national government.In a confederation, power is mainly concentrated at the state level, causing citizens to primarily be engaged with state governments.The central government within a confederation typically only handles collective action among states, so citizens mostly interact with their state government for daily situations.And lastly when it comes to a unitary system the power is concentrated at the national level, meaning citizens role is mainly through the central government being that it holds he majority of authority.Though local governments exist, they gain their power from the central government.Citizen’s engage with the national government through ways like engaging in national level politics.When compared, citizens in a unitary system tend to have less direct influence at the local government level.
2. Within politics, division of power refers to the distribution of power/authority across different levels of government, such as national and state and local.This structure ultimately is what determines how responsibilities and decision making is divided up within a political system.Different countries adopt various systems that implement different forms of division of power.In a federal, power is divided between the national and state governments, each having their own set of responsibilities and authority.The United States is a country that adopts this system, the federal government often handles federal judges and justices approval, national defense etc, whereas the state governments manage law enforcement, local infrastructures etc.This division allowing for both levels to govern effectively while preventing the concentration of power.
3. The federal government’s influence on New York during the Covid 19 pandemic demonstrates how it can shape the actions of state and local governments, specifically through funding and public health directives.Using health guidelines from the CDC the federal government required state and local governments to adjust their policies accordingly.Mask mandates were implemented, vaccinations required to enter public buildings and business restrictions.Temporary halts to evictions were also implemented to prevent mass homelessness as a result of the increase of layoffs.This specific example of the pandemic highlighted how the federal government can both directly and indirectly shape state and local actions by setting national priorities.

1. The primary distinction lies in the distribution of power within governmental structures. In a federal system, citizens can vote for representatives in both regional and national governments. Conversely, in a confederation, voters primarily exert their influence at the state government level. Finally, in a unitary government, while citizens can influence regional authorities, those regional governments ultimately adhere to the directives of the central government.
   
2. The United States is organized with a national government that consists of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. These branches delegate their powers to state governments, whose officials are elected by us, the citizens of the country. This structure ensures that power is divided and balanced. “We the people” may not hold direct power, which is why we elect representatives to office; these officials are then held accountable by the people in Congress. This system creates three levels of governance at both the federal and state levels.
   
3. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government significantly influenced New York’s state and local governments through financial support and regulatory measures. The U.S. Department of the Treasury allocated $900 billion nationwide, with $350 billion for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) under the American Rescue Plan. This funding helped address revenue losses and pandemic-related expenses. (home.treasury.gov) New York’s federal funding improved its per capita ranking from 49th in 2019 to 30th in the fiscal year 2021, with the state receiving $1.51 for every dollar contributed in federal taxes. While federal guidelines were provided, states maintained decision-making autonomy. (osc.ny.gov) Governor Andrew Cuomo created the Eastern States Multi-state Council to coordinate the easing of economic restrictions with neighboring states.(en.wikipedia.org) Additionally, the federal government’s regulatory decisions, such as halting funding for cybersecurity related to elections, impacted state preparations and raised concerns about election integrity. In summary, federal actions were crucial in shaping New York’s responses to the pandemic, providing necessary resources while also presenting challenges that required innovative strategies at the state and local levels. (apnews.com)