Confederacy

1. A confederacy is a form of government formed as a union of political organizations, though it differs from a republic in that the separate political units retain a greater degree of sovereignty over themselves.

• See confederation or alliance.

2. A confederacy can also be a group of individuals operating for a common cause, usually perceived to be a negative term.

• See Cabal or conspiracy.

3. The Confederacy is also a popular name for the Confederate States of America or CSA.