How does the U.S. federal system relate to the governments of its 50 states?

The U.S. federal system is defined by a constitutional division of power between the national government and the 50 states. Under this framework, the federal government exercises powers specifically delegated to it by the U.S. Constitution, such as conducting foreign relations, declaring war, and regulating interstate commerce.12

All powers not delegated to the federal government, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people, as established by the Tenth Amendment. Consequently, states maintain comprehensive authority over matters such as education, public health, property laws, and domestic relations. While state governments mirror the federal structure—each possessing a governor, a legislature, and a judiciary—they are prohibited from enacting laws that contradict the U.S. Constitution or infringing upon fundamental rights protected by the 14th Amendment.132

The relationship is dynamic; federal influence often expands through grants-in-aid, while judicial interpretations and political trends have historically caused the balance of power between state and federal authorities to shift. States, in turn, hold the authority to establish and oversee local governments, determining the scope of their autonomy.12