describe a situation in with a government has a great deal of power but does not have political authority

Confederal Government is a government in which the central or Union Government has some powers but it cannot exercise political authority like imposing taxes on the states and executing laws.

Confederal Government sanctions excessive supremacies and authority to the states as per the Articles of Confederation. States have all powers to impose taxes and execute laws.

There is no Confederal Government that exists today. Articles of Confederation were altered and after great deliberations in the senate, it gave equal rights and powers to both Central and States Governments. Confederal Government was the first government that was formed in United States.