What characteristics of the confederate states of America made it confederal government when compared to the US government?

The Confederate States of America operated under a confederal government structure that emphasized state sovereignty, where individual states retained significant power and autonomy over their own affairs. This contrasted with the United States' federal system, where authority is shared between the national and state governments. The Confederacy's constitution explicitly limited the central government's powers and prioritized the rights of states, leading to a weaker central authority. Consequently, decisions required consensus among the states, making governance less cohesive compared to the more centralized US government.