Which of the following best describes the role of the federal state in a country’s political organization?

To act as a system of defense that protects subnational states from threats emerging outside of the country’s international borders


To act as a single centralized economy for a collection of subnational states allied for a common purpose


To act as an overarching government for a collection of subnational states allied for a common purpose


To act as a strong centralized administration that eliminates the need for self-governing subnational or local governments


To act as a virtual public-service provider that eliminates the need for self-governing subnational or local government