A confederation (confederalism) is a system of government in which sovereign, independent states come together and delegate limited powers to a central authority while retaining most of their powers and sovereignty. This arrangement results in a weak centre and strong components.
In a confederation:
The component states retain their sovereignty, independence, and right to secede.
The central government has only the powers that the member states voluntarily grant to it.
The central body typically handles limited matters such as defence and foreign affairs, and even then usually requires the consent of member states.
The central government cannot directly tax citizens or enforce laws without the cooperation of member states.
This contrasts with other systems on the spectrum of power distribution:
A federal system has a strong centre and strong components, with powers constitutionally divided between both levels.
A unitary system has a strong centre and weak components, with power concentrated at the centre.
Historical examples of confederations include the early United States under the Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) and the Senegambia Confederation (1982-1989).
