type of government where the central government gets its power from the states

The type of government where the central (national) government gets its power from the states is called a confederation (or confederal system of government).

Quick Scoop

In a confederal system , the real power rests with the states or regional units, and the central authority is created by them and remains subordinate to them. The central body only has the powers that the member states choose to give it, and they can often change or even withdraw those powers.

A classic example is the Articles of Confederation in early United States history, where the 13 states formed a loose union and the central Congress was quite weak, relying on the states for money and enforcement. In contrast, a federal system (like the current U.S. Constitution) divides power between a national government and the states, but the national level is not subordinate to the states.