The term federalism is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces). Federalism is the system in which the power to govern is shared between the national & state governments, creating what is often called a federation.
In the United States, federalism is the system of government in which power is divided between a central government and the government of each state. Before the U.S. Constitution was written, each American state was essentially sovereign. The U.S. Constitution created a federal government with sufficient powers to both represent and unite the states, but did not supplant state governments. This federal arrangement, by which the central federal government exercises delegated power over some issues and the state governments exercise power over other issues, is one of the basic characteristics of the U.S. Constitution that checks governmental power.
In India its the same mechanism where there is a division of power between the central and the state governments.Each has certain powers so as to govern the people...As far as differences are concerned, in U.S. the president takes over the charge of the government whereas in India its the prime minister,and the president is only a nominal head having limited but exclusive powers...I hope this answers your question..
