Final answer:
Federalism is the system where power is shared between the national and state governments, as exemplified by the United States, where the Constitution delineates this division and power-sharing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Federalism refers to the sharing of power between state and national governments. This system is characterized by a division of sovereignty between a central government and individual states. In countries like the United States, certain powers such as the ability to negotiate treaties are reserved for the national government, while others, like the enforcement of driving laws, are under the purview of state governments.
Federalism is a fundamental aspect of the American political system and is entrenched within the U.S. Constitution, which allocates powers and structures the relationship between the two levels of government. It creates a balance between the forces of decentralization and centralization, providing a complex interplay that has been evolving since the country's founding.
The essence of federalism is the constitutional arrangement that establishes two relatively autonomous levels of government, with each level having the capacity to act directly on behalf of the population with authority granted by the national constitution.