Final answer:
Federalism refers to the division of powers between a central government and state governments, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution, where certain powers are reserved for states and others are shared or exclusive to the national government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The system of shared powers, divided between a central government and the state governments, is known as federalism. In the context of the United States, federalism is the constitutional arrangement where power is distributed between the national government and the states. Powers that are not explicitly given to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states. This division ensures a balance of power that not only protects the interests of states but also unifies them under a capable central government.
According to the framers of the Constitution, the national or federal government is granted certain enumerated powers like declaring war, regulating commerce, and coining money, while others are shared with the states or reserved to the states alone. This structure intends that state governments can exercise authority in matters not specifically delegated to the federal government, offering diversity and local control in governance.
The function of federalism is clearly distinguished from the separation of powers and checks and balances, which relate to the distribution and oversight of power between the three branches of the national government: the legislative, executive, and judiciary. Federalism, rather, explains the relationship of power between different levels of government as outlined in the Constitution.