The Constitution established a system of "dual sovereignty." What does this mean?

The concept of "dual sovereignty" refers to the sharing of power and authority between state governments and the federal government. This structure allows both levels of government to operate independently within their respective spheres of influence, meaning that states have certain powers and responsibilities that the federal government cannot infringe upon, and vice versa. This system is foundational to the U.S. federalism model, which aims to balance power to avoid concentration and protect the rights of individual states while still allowing for a unified national policy in certain areas.

In this context, the other options do not accurately represent the principle of dual sovereignty. One that suggests states have no powers over federal laws contradicts the essence of federalism, which allows states to exercise powers not specifically delegated to the federal government. Another indicates that states have surrendered all their powers to the federal government, which is inaccurate as states retain significant authority in many areas, including education, transportation, and law enforcement. The choice asserting that only local governments have power completely undermines the dual sovereignty system, as it ignores the critical role that both state and federal governments play in the governance of the country.