What is an example of federalism?

Federalism refers to the division of powers and responsibilities between different levels of government, specifically the national government and state governments. An example of federalism is the relationship between state and federal laws. This concept illustrates how both levels of government have the authority to create laws, with certain areas where federal law is supreme, as outlined in the Constitution.

This relationship also highlights the complexities of governance, where states can enact laws that might differ from federal laws, creating a dynamic legal landscape. This interplay is fundamental to the federal system established by the U.S. Constitution, which allows for a balance of power to exist and for different needs and preferences at the state and local levels to be addressed while still adhering to the overarching authority of federal law.

Other options, while related to government operations, do not exemplify federalism in the same way. State citizenship requirements pertain more to state sovereignty, federal tax codes relate directly to federal authority without showing the interaction with state laws, and Supreme Court decisions often interpret those interactions but are not an example of federalism themselves.