In a confederation, the national government derives its authority from which entity?

In a confederation, the national government derives its authority from the states. This means that the individual states maintain significant power and sovereignty, delegating only limited authority to the national government. The structure of a confederation is characterized by a weak central authority since the states are independent entities that come together for certain common purposes, but retain the ultimate authority over their own affairs.

This contrasts sharply with a federal system, where power is divided between national and state governments, and both levels derive their authority from the constitution. In a confederation, however, the constitution, if it exists, primarily functions to manage the interactions and agreements between the states rather than empowering a strong national government. Additionally, while local governments operate under state jurisdictions, they do not have a direct relationship with the national government in a confederation.

The relationship in a confederation highlights the preference for state sovereignty and autonomy, distinguishing it from systems where the national government holds primary control, such as in a federal system.