The central government is the political authority that governs an entire nation. The United States is a federal system of government in which power is shared between the central (sometimes referred to as national or federal) government and state governments.In the U.S., power is given to the central government, located in Washington, D.C., by the United States Constitution.s you can see, the role of the central government in our lives is significant. As public opinion changes and lawmakers respond, the roles of central government can expand and contract as necessary to meet the needs of the citizens of the United States.