Federalism is the belief that a country should work as a federation: several states or regions keep some of their own power, and they also share a central government for the things they do together, like the army or the money. The United States is the example people always point to; Germany and Australia work this way too.

Federalism federalism is the belief that a country should work as a federation是一種主張，認為國家應該用聯邦的方式運作： several states or regions keep some of their own power幾個州或地區保有自己的部分權力， and they also share a central government for the things they do together同時也共用一個中央政府來處理大家一起做的事， like the army or the money像是軍隊或貨幣。 The United States is the example people always point to美國是大家最常拿來舉例的國家； Germany and Australia work this way too德國和澳洲也是這樣運作的。

People who like federalism say it stops one city from bossing the whole land. People who worry about it say the parts can pull in different directions and the centre becomes weak.

People who like federalism支持federalism的人 say it stops one city from bossing the whole land說它能防止一個城市支配整個國家。 People who worry about it擔心它的人 say the parts can pull in different directions說各地方可能會各自為政 and the centre becomes weak讓中央變弱。

It is a politics-class word. You will hear it in the news when a country is arguing about how much power the capital should have versus the local governments.

It is a politics-class word這是政治課會用的字。 You will hear it in the news你會在新聞裡聽到它 when a country is arguing about how much power the capital should have versus the local governments當一個國家在爭論中央該有多少權力、地方政府又該有多少的時候。

Though actually, “the federal government” in US news is just a nickname for that country’s centre — it is not the same thing as federalism, which is the idea itself.

Though actually不過， “the federal government” in US news美國新聞裡說的『the federal government』 is just a nickname for that country's centre只是那個國家中央政府的暱稱， it is not the same thing as federalism跟federalism不是同一件事， which is the idea itself federalism指的是那個理念本身。