In a federal system, like the United States, citizens are governed by both national and state governments, each with its own authority and responsibilities but still under federal laws. In a confederation, the central government the power lies mostly with the states, so citizens are more directly connected to their state governments. In a unitary system, power is centralized in the national government, and local governments only carry out duties given to them. The division of power in a federal system is split by responsibilities that are shared between different levels of government, such as education, healthcare, and law enforcement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government supported New York State and local governments through funding, public health guidelines, and emergency declarations. For example, it provided financial aid to hospitals, schools, and small businesses, and issued national vaccine distribution plans that state and local agencies had to follow.