According to the Founders, what was a primary purpose of federalism?

• A. Protect personal liberty
• B. Provide efficient local administration
• C. Encourage citizen participation
• D. Guarantee equality

Answer: (A)

Dispersing political power across different levels of government guards personal liberty by making it harder for any single authority to infringe on rights. The Founders designed a system where national and state governments each have their own spheres of authority, so no one body can easily concentrate power and oppress individuals. This layered sovereignty creates checks and balances in practice: if the national government oversteps, states can push back or experiment with different policies, and citizens can appeal to or influence local governments where they feel closer to the action. While federalism can enhance local administration or encourage civic involvement and policy testing, its fundamental aim in the Founders’ view was to protect liberty by preventing tyranny through the division and limitation of power.