What concept refers to the division of power between national and state governments?

The concept that refers to the division of power between national and state governments is known as federalism. Federalism is a system of governance where power is shared between a central authority and various constituent political units, such as states or provinces. In this system, the national government has certain powers that are exclusive to it, while state governments retain their own distinct powers, enabling a balance that allows for local governance alongside national interests.

This structure is prominent in countries like the United States, where the Constitution outlines the specific powers and responsibilities of both the federal and state governments. This division not only helps to manage the diverse needs of different regions but also serves as a safeguard against the concentration of power, promoting a system of checks and balances.

In contrast, other options like confederation, unitary system, and monarchy do not describe a division of power in the same way. A confederation typically involves a loose alliance of independent states that retain most of their sovereignty, a unitary system centralizes power in a single national government without significant devolution to states or regions, and monarchy refers to a form of governance where a single ruler holds supreme authority, often with hereditary succession. Thus, federalism is the correct term to describe the structure of power distribution