A confederation is a system of government where independent states form an alliance and delegate certain powers to a central authority, while retaining their sovereignty. The central authority is limited in its power and relies on the voluntary cooperation of member states.
Related terms
Unitary System: In a unitary system, all political power is held by the central government, which may delegate certain powers to local governments or regions.
Federal System: In contrast to a confederation, a federal system is characterized by shared powers between the central government and regional governments. Both levels of government have their own areas of responsibility but also share certain powers.
Sovereignty: Sovereignty refers to the supreme authority or power that an entity (such as a state) has over itself. In a confederation, member states retain their sovereignty while delegating some powers to the central authority.