Confederation

A confederation is a political union in which sovereign member units delegate limited powers to a common central authority. Its members retain ultimate authority and may often withdraw from the union.

Confederal government: A common authority established by sovereign members to exercise powers delegated by their agreement. It carries out the limited functions members assign to a confederation.
Federation: A political system in which constitutional authority is divided between a central government and constituent units. Unlike a confederation, a federation's central government usually acts directly on citizens.
Articles of Confederation: The first constitution of the United States, in force from 1781 to 1789. It created a weak central government whose shortcomings prompted a new constitution.
Articles of Confederation Congress: The national legislature established under the Articles of Confederation of the United States. Its limited authority exposed the practical constraints of the American confederal design.
Collective action problem: A situation in which individuals or groups share an interest but have incentives to avoid contributing to it. Sovereign members may withhold resources or cooperation from shared confederal goals.
Delegated powers: Powers granted to an institution by another authority, often within constitutional or treaty limits. A confederation's central authority can act only within powers its members grant.
Unitary state: A state in which the central government holds ultimate legal authority over its territory. It contrasts with a confederation, where member units retain sovereignty.
German Confederation: An association of German states that existed from 1815 to 1866. It coordinated sovereign states without becoming a unified nation-state.
Perpetual Union: The union of American states declared by the Articles of Confederation to be perpetual. The phrase reveals the tension between a confederation's sovereign members and its claim to permanence.
Fiscal capacity: A government's ability to raise revenue and finance public responsibilities. Weak central revenue can leave confederal institutions dependent on member contributions.

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