One way to approach the answer to this question is to compare what the federal system of government can do that state or local governments can not. The United States Constitution clearly enumerates and differentiates the federal government from other governing bodies. Where not specifically mentioned as federal-only power, the states may assume the power to implement policy, regulation, or law, so long as it does not contradict existing federal law. I know you asked for one example, but I will provide you with three that may help you think about the answer to this question differently.
One example of federal power is the ability to wage war against foreign powers. A state can not declare war. Another example is interstate commerce. Simply explained, interstate commerce can be thought of as any economic transactions that cross state lines. For example, when a product is manufactured in one state and shipped across country, the federal government has established regulations and laws governing how the product is transported. A third example is currency. The federal system prints money and regulates the distribution of currency and the monetary system.
Without a centralized federal regulatory system, you could potentially have states declaring war, fifty different laws regarding commerce, and multiple currency systems!
The powers of the national government primarily extend to matters of national affairs and international concerns. The ability of the central government to declare war is a result of the signing of the Constitution. This power is granted to Congress, one of three branches of the federal government, in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution. This clause gives Congress the right to declare war against all nations. It is supported by Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, which names the president of the United States commander-in-chief of the armed forces. These powers are typically used simultaneously, although past presidents have occasionally declared war without receiving prior authorization from Congress. This exercise of presidential power, which was demonstrated in several military campaigns such as the Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq War, have raised questions and debate about whether presidents have the authority to make declarations of war absent approval from Congress.
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution is the most detailed in enumerating the powers of Congress to control the nation’s financial interests. It enables the federal government to collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises uniformly throughout the country. The United States receives 80% of its revenue from individual income and payroll taxes and 9% of its revenue from the corporate income tax. This revenue funds the federal budget each year for both mandatory spending, such as Social Security and Medicare, and discretionary spending earmarked during Congress’s appropriations process. It is also used to pay interest on the national debt.
Controlling the federal tax system controls the revenue, which controls the budget. Without taxes, there could be no military to order into war or Pell Grant Program to help low-income students pay for college. The federal budget informs every aspect of life in the United States, from health care to defense to the space program. No other federal power has a greater reach.
https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-are-sources-revenue-federal-government
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