confederal

Confederal describes a system of government in which sovereign states pool limited powers in a central authority created by treaty. In a confederation, the central body derives its legitimacy from the member states and acts only on powers delegated to it by those states. The member states retain ultimate sovereignty and can withdraw or redefine the central authority’s remit.

Key features include a limited central mandate and reliance on the states for resources and enforcement. Common tasks for a central authority in a confederal system might include defense, foreign policy, trade coordination, or standardization of policies, but the central government typically lacks independent taxing power and cannot compel states to comply without their consent. Decision-making often requires unanimity or broad consensus among member states, which can slow action and reduce the risk of centralized overreach.

Confederal versus federal and unitary models: In a federation, a constitution endows a central government with authority that is, in principle, supreme within its domain, with powers distributed between levels of government. In a confederation, the central authority is created by and subordinate to the member states and operates only within the narrow, delegated powers granted by those states. In a unitary state, centralized authority is the norm, and subnational units derive powers from the central government.

Historical and contemporary examples include the United States under the Articles of Confederation (1777–1789), the Confederate States of America (1861–1865), and certain historical or loosely integrated arrangements such as the Swiss Confederation in its early form. Some modern analyses describe the European Union as exhibiting confederal-like traits due to member-state sovereignty and supranational institutions, though it also features distinct elements that complicate a strict classification.