There are three basic ways to distribute political authority within a country. In a unitary system, like France or Great Britain, all power and authority rests with the national government, and state and local governments have only those powers specifically granted them by the national government. A confederal system, like the United States under the Articles of Confederation, allocates all power to the constituent parts, with the national government having only those powers specifically granted it by the states. The American system of federalism represents a third way to distribute political authority within a country. Describe the American system of federalism. How does the separation of powers relate to federalism in the United States?