In the context of federalism, which powers are primarily given to the national government?

The powers primarily given to the national government in the context of federalism include foreign policy and national defense. These are fundamental responsibilities of a sovereign state and are typically managed at the national level to ensure consistency and effectiveness across the country.

Foreign policy encompasses diplomatic relations, treaty negotiation, and international trade, which require a unified approach to represent the nation as a whole. National defense includes maintaining armed forces and military strategy to protect the country from external threats, a responsibility that cannot be effectively fulfilled by individual states alone.

Other options involve powers that may be shared or managed at both federal and state levels. Education and transportation, for instance, often involve significant state and local governance. Similarly, healthcare and agriculture are areas where states have substantial authority and where policies can differ widely across regions. Environmental regulations can vary significantly at the state level, and while trade is affected by federal law, it often involves state interests as well. These mixed responsibilities highlight the complexity of federalism, but the centralization of foreign policy and national defense is a clear hallmark of national government power.