Resolution resolved: The United States federal government should substantially curtail its domestic surveillance. Violations

Federal indicates central government, distinct from the states

Thomson 7 Alex Thomson, A Glossary of US Politics and Government 2007 p 72

federal government The term used to refer to the central, national government of the United States, based primarily in Washington DC. The federal government differs from the fifty state governments in that it has a national jurisdiction, and it governs in separate policy areas from those of the states.
Random House 13 Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/federal

fed·er·al [fed-er-uhl] Show IPA adjective

1.pertaining to or of the nature of a union of states under a central government distinct from the individual governments of the separate states, as in federal government; federal system .

2.of, pertaining to, or noting such a central government: federal offices.
Oxford 13 Oxford Dictionaries 2013 http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/federal

Definition of federal adjective

1having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs:a federal Europe

2relating to or denoting the central government as distinguished from the separate units constituting a federation:the health ministry has sole federal responsibility for health care

(Federal) US historical of the Northern states in the Civil War.

WordNet 12 Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/federal

Adj. 1.federal – national federal - national; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units; "the Federal Bureau of Investigation"; "federal courts"; "the federal highway program"; "federal property"

national - concerned with or applicable to or belonging to an entire nation or country; "the national government"; "national elections"; "of national concern"; "the national highway system"; "national forests"

2.federal - of or relating to the central government of a federation federal - of or relating to the central government of a federation; "a federal district is one set aside as the seat of the national government"