State versus federal power refers to the ongoing tension and balance of authority between state governments and the federal government in the United States. It involves determining which level of government has the final say on certain policy issues or laws.
Related terms
Federalism: The system of government in which power is divided between a central authority (federal government) and individual states.
Supremacy Clause: A clause in the U.S. Constitution that establishes that federal law takes precedence over conflicting state laws when there is a conflict.
Dual Federalism: This term refers to an older doctrine that emphasized clear divisions and separate spheres of influence between state and federal governments.