Final answer:
The federal government differs from state governments as it is a national government that coordinates states, handling national issues, whereas states address local matters. Federalism divides power between national and state governments, as established by the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that describes what makes the federal government different from a state government in the United States is: a) The federal government is a national government that helps the states work together. In the U.S. federal system, all national matters are handled by the federal government, which is led by the president and members of Congress, all of whom are elected by voters across the country. All matters at the subnational level are the responsibility of the fifty states, each headed by an elected governor and legislature.
Federalism is a system that creates two levels of government, with both the national and state governments being relatively autonomous, each possessing authority granted to them by the national constitution. The Constitution created a federal system where power was shared between the national and state governments.