A) Declaration of Independence INCORRECT The Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776, primarily served to announce the American colonies' separation from Great Britain and to justify that action by listing grievances against King George III. It articulated the philosophical principles of natural rights and the consent of the governed, but it did not establish a system of government. Therefore, it does not reflect the principle of federalism, which requires a formal structure dividing powers between national and state governments. The Declaration is a foundational statement of independence, not a governing document.
B) Articles of Confederation INCORRECT The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, created a loose confederation of sovereign states with a weak central government. It lacked a strong federal structure, as the national government had no power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws. This arrangement proved ineffective, leading to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. While it did have a form of state-federal relationship, it did not establish a true federal system with a balanced division of powers. Instead, it emphasized state sovereignty, which is the opposite of federalism's shared sovereignty.
C) U.S. Constitution CORRECT The U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1788, is the supreme law of the land and explicitly establishes the principle of federalism. It creates a federal system where power is divided between the national government and state governments, with each having distinct responsibilities. For example, the Constitution grants the federal government enumerated powers, such as the power to declare war and coin money, while reserving other powers to the states, such as conducting elections and establishing local governments. The Tenth Amendment further reinforces this division by stating that powers not delegated to the United States nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or to the people. This structure ensures a balance of power and is a cornerstone of American governance.
D) Mayflower Compact INCORRECT The Mayflower Compact, signed in 1620, was an agreement among the Pilgrims to form a self-governing community in the New World. It was a social contract that established a rudimentary form of majority rule, but it did not create a federal system or divide powers between levels of government. It applied only to the Plymouth Colony and was not a national document. Therefore, it does not reflect the principle of federalism, which is a complex system of governance that emerged much later with the U.S. Constitution.
