A confederal system of governance is characterised by

A confederal system of governance is characterised by independent regional governments. In a confederation (also called a confederacy), the component states or regions retain their sovereignty and independence, and the central authority is relatively weak. Power flows from the component states to the centre, not the other way around.

In a confederation, the central government typically handles only matters that the member states collectively agree to delegate to it, such as defence or foreign affairs, and even then its authority depends on the consent and cooperation of the member states. Each member state retains the right to withdraw from the confederation and can override or ignore decisions of the central body. Historical examples include the early United States under the Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) and the Confederate States of America (1861-1865).

The other options describe different systems. A strong central authority is the hallmark of a unitary system, not a confederation. Unitary state control, where all power resides in a single central government, is the direct opposite of confederalism. Direct democracy, where citizens vote directly on laws and policies rather than through representatives, is a form of governance unrelated to the distribution of power between central and regional governments.