What is a Federation?
A Federation is a political system in which several political units or States join together to form a larger entity, but each retains some autonomy and its own laws and forms of government. That is, member states join together to form a federation, but maintain control over certain internal matters.
Main features of the Federation:
- Member States have a certain autonomy.
- There is a federal Constitution that establishes the rules of government.
- Power is divided between the federal government and state governments.
- There is a Supreme Court that interprets the federal Constitution and resolves conflicts between the federal and state governments.
What is a Confederation?
A Confederation, on the other hand, is a political system in which several States or political entities join together to form a larger entity, but each has a high degree of independence and control over its own affairs. In a Confederation, the Member States are more independent than in a Federation.
Main characteristics of the Confederation:
- Member States have a high degree of autonomy.
- There is no federal Constitution that establishes the rules of government.
- Power is concentrated in state governments, not the federal government.
- There is no Supreme Court that resolves conflicts between member states.
What's the difference?
The main difference between a Federation and a Confederation is the distribution of power between the member states and the central government. In a Federation, power is divided between the federal government and the state governments and there is a federal Constitution and a Supreme Court to maintain the balance. In a Confederation, power is concentrated in the member states and there is no federal Constitution or Supreme Court.
In summary: A Federation is a political system in which several States join together to form a larger entity, but each maintains some autonomy and there is a federal Constitution and a Supreme Court to maintain the balance. A Confederation is a political system in which several States are united, but each retains great independence and control over its own affairs and there is no federal Constitution or Supreme Court.
I am Sebastián Vidal, a computer engineer passionate about technology and DIY. Furthermore, I am the creator of tecnobits.com, where I share tutorials to make technology more accessible and understandable for everyone.