Federal

1.

Pertaining to a league or compact between independent sovereignties.

2.

Composed of states which retain only a portion of their original sovereignty; relating to the constitution, treaties, or laws, or the power or government of the organization thereby formed. Appropriate to our General Government, the government of the United States, considered as a Union of States or local governments. The word "National" recognizes the State governments and the government of the Union as distinct systems.* In the second sense are the common expressions Federal or federal — amendments, Constitution, courts, elections, decisions, judges, laws and statutes, question, government, officer. In these phrases the word of contrast is "State:" as, State constitutions, courts, laws, etc. See those titles.