In a confederation, the national government derives its power from

• A. the people
• B. the states
• C. the courts
• D. the Congress

Answer: (B)

In a confederation, the central authority exists only because the member states grant it specific powers. The states retain sovereignty and decide what the national government can and cannot do. Because legitimacy flows from the states, the national government’s authority is derived from them, not directly from the people or from a strong central mandate. The national government can act only within the powers that the states have delegated; if states disagree or withdraw those powers, the central government loses its authority. This structure contrasts with a federal system, where the national government also derives authority from the people, not just from the states, and with a unitary system, where power rests in a strong central government. Historical examples like the Articles of Confederation illustrate a national government that depended on state consent for its power.