1. In a federal system, people are connected to multiple levels of government which are local, state, and national and can vote and participate at all those levels. In a confederation, most of the power stays with the states, so people mainly deal with their state government rather than a strong central one. A unitary system is the opposite, where people are mostly governed by one central authority and local governments have very little independent power.

2. I see the division of power as a way to prevent one part of government from becoming too dominant. Certain responsibilities are split between the federal and state levels. For example, how the federal government deals with national defense or currency, while states take care of things like schooling and local safety. It’s also designed to create balance through checks so that if one level oversteps, the other can push back.

3. During COVID-19, the federal government played a major role in shaping New York’s response. It provided financial aid like through the CARES Act and public health guidance from the CDC. That support helped New York create safety rules, expand testing, and handle rising cases. Without that federal assistance, the state would’ve had a much harder time dealing with the crisis.