| − | In the [[United States]], the term '''federal''' refers to the national government based in [[Washington, D.C.]]. The [[federal]] government's responsibility is to govern the entire country, unlike the state and [[local government|local]] levels of government, which have [[jurisdiction]] over only one state or locality (e.g., a [[city]] or [[county]]), respectively. | + | In the [[United States]], the term '''federal''' refers to the national government based in [[Washington, D.C.]]. The federal government's responsibility is to govern the entire country, unlike the state and [[local government|local]] levels of [[government]], which have [[jurisdiction]] over only one state or locality (e.g., a [[city]] or [[county]]), respectively. |
| − | The '''federal system''' refers to a system of [[government]] in which power is distributed between a central authority and constituent territorial units.<ref>[[Merriam-Webster]] Online, [http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=federal ''Federal'']</ref> | + | The '''federal system''' refers to a system of [[government]] in which power is distributed between a central [[authority]] and constituent territorial units.<ref>[[Merriam-Webster]] Online, [http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=federal ''Federal'']</ref> |