Answer:
The difference between a federation and confederation is that while the member states in the former submit their individual sovereignty to the federal government, the member states in the latter retain their sovereignty. The central government in a confederation is merely a figurehead organization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between a federation and confederation is that while the member states in the former submit their individual sovereignty to the federal government, the member states in the latter retain their sovereignty. The central government in a confederation is merely a figurehead organization.
Federation is a particular political system that is formed when several constituent states submit a part of their sovereign authority to a common central government. This common federal government possesses expansive powers in the domains of defense, foreign affairs, national security, and finance.
However, a certain degree of autonomy is retained by the states. But the possibility of seceding from the union is eliminated. Strong legal ties bind the states together. A written constitution is often an essential tool for dictating the division of powers between the federal government and the constituent states. The policy decisions taken by the federal government are binding on the member states.
Federations are often political systems adopted by erstwhile confederations. America, Germany, Russia are all examples of this transformation. These nation-states have adopted a federal political structure marking an end to their confederation statuses. Several populous countries in the world have adopted the federal form of government.
A confederation is a voluntary alliance of several states that may be formed to attain certain commonly agreed-upon goals. The coalition may be formed to achieve various economic, political, cultural, or social objectives. The member states can secede from the union if they feel that these objectives are not being adequately fulfilled.
The main difference between a federation and a confederation is in terms of the possession of sovereign authority. Under a federation, primary sovereignty is vested in the federal government. While primary sovereignty is located in the member states in the case of a confederation.