The federal and state governments refer to the two levels of government within the United States. The federal government has authority over national issues, while state governments have authority over local issues within their respective states.
Related terms
Dual sovereignty: Dual sovereignty refers to the concept that both federal and state governments have distinct powers and can operate independently within their spheres.
Supremacy clause: The supremacy clause states that federal laws take precedence over conflicting state laws when there is a conflict between them.
Devolution: Devolution is the transfer of powers from a central authority (federal government) to regional authorities (state governments).