GED Social Studies TestCivics and GovernmentMedium
A non-profit organization is advocating for a national policy that would require all states to adopt a uniform curriculum for K-12 education. Opponents argue that such a policy would infringe upon the rights of individual states to determine their own educational standards. This disagreement highlights a core tension inherent in the U.S. system of:
- ASeparation of Powers
- BLimited Government
- CJudicial Review
- DFederalism
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Federalism
The debate over whether the national government or individual states should control education policy is a classic example of the ongoing tension and division of powers central to federalism in the United States.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Separation of powers divides authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, not between federal and state governments.
- B. Limited government restricts governmental power, but this scenario is about *which* level of government has the power, not the extent of power itself.
- C. Judicial review is the power of courts to interpret laws, not a principle governing the division of policy-making authority between federal and state levels.
Federalism
A system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central (federal) government and regional (state) governments.
- Divides power between national and state governments.
- Different levels of government have distinct and shared responsibilities.
- Creates inherent tensions over the scope of national vs. state authority.
Memory trick: FEDERALISM is like a FEATHERED bird with two wings: national and state.