What is dual federalism?

Dual federalism refers to a system of governance in which state and national governments operate independently within their own specific spheres of authority. This means that each level of government has defined areas of responsibility, and within those areas, each government can exercise its powers without interference from the other. In this structure, both the state and national governments are seen as supreme in their respective domains.

The historical context is important to understand dual federalism; it reflects the original framework established by the U.S. Constitution, where certain powers are reserved to the states while others are granted to the federal government. This clear delineation was intended to limit the powers of the federal government and protect the sovereignty of states.

The other options present different concepts of federalism or interpretations of government structure. For instance, a system where powers are shared and overlapped describes cooperative federalism, which is characterized by a more intertwined relationship between state and national levels. The assertion that dual federalism was only implemented after the Civil War overlooks its roots in the founding of the nation, and the idea of national government domination over state issues contradicts the fundamental premise of dual federalism, which emphasizes the independence of each level of government.