1:In a federal system, citizens have direct representation at both federal and state levels, with powers divided between them. In a confederation, citizens primarily interact with their state or regional government, with limited central authority. In a unitary system, citizens interact solely with a central government, which delegates authority to local administrations.

2:The division of power refers to the allocation of governmental authority between different levels of government, such as federal, state, and local. This ensures a balance of power and prevents any one level from becoming too dominant.

3:During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has influenced the actions of the NY state and local governments through directives, funding allocations, and guidelines. For example, federal agencies like the CDC provided guidance on public health measures, while funding initiatives such as the CARES Act allocated resources to states like New York for pandemic response efforts.
Additionally, executive orders ano mandates from the federal level influenced the implementation of policies at the state and local levels, shaping their responses to the pandemic.