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The national government's powers are primarily defined by the U.S. Constitution and typically include responsibilities that extend across the entire nation or pertain specifically to national interests. Among those powers are providing for national defense, such as declaring war and maintaining a military, both of which are explicitly granted to Congress. The ability to establish copyrights, while more nuanced, is also a federal power as it falls under the regulation of intellectual property on a national basis.

Running local governments, on the other hand, is not a power of the national government. Local governments are created by state governments, which hold the primary authority and responsibility for governing within their respective jurisdictions. This distinction is essential because the structure of governance in the United States is federal, meaning that while the national government handles national matters, states retain the authority over local affairs, including the establishment and operation of local governments.

Thus, the response highlighting that running local governments is not a power of the national government is accurate, as it illustrates the division of powers between state and national authorities as outlined in the Constitution.