What is defined as the organization through which political authority is exercised at the state level?

The state government is the correct answer because it refers specifically to the political authority and administrative framework at the state level. Each U.S. state has its own constitution, legislature, executive, and judiciary, which are responsible for managing state affairs, implementing laws, and providing services to residents. The state government operates independently of the national government and has the power to legislate on a wide range of issues, including education, transportation, and public safety, that are not exclusively reserved for the federal level.

Local government pertains to smaller subdivisions within a state, such as counties, municipalities, or towns, which manage local affairs but operate under the broader laws and regulations established by the state. National government refers to the authority at the federal level, encompassing the entire country and dealing with matters that affect the nation as a whole. The federal government indicates the division of powers between various levels of government, not exclusively at the state level. Therefore, the state government is the appropriate choice when discussing the entity through which political authority is exercised specifically at the state level.