Federal

[from Lat. foedus, a league or treaty.] Founded upon, or formed by a league, treaty, or compact between independent states. The government of the United States is a federal government, as being formed by the union of several independent states, each surrendering a portion of its power to the central authority. A federal is strictly distinguishable from a national government, (though in the United States the terms are often used indifferently,) the latter being properly an aggregation of individual citizens. The constitution of the United States is pronounced by Mr. Madison to be neither a national, nor a federal constitution, but a composition of both.

Federalist, No. 39.