Final answer:
A modern example of a confederal system is the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), while the United States, Canada, and Germany are examples of federal systems. Confederations have a weak central authority, whereas federations share power between central and state governments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Modern examples of countries with confederal systems are relatively rare compared to those with federal systems. Confederations are marked by a weak central authority and significantly autonomous member states. One such contemporary example of a confederation is the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), comprised of several nations formerly part of the Soviet Union, maintaining a loose partnership rather than a strong centralized government.
In a federation, power is shared between central and state governments, such as in the United States, Canada, and Germany. The federal government often handles national defense and economic regulation, whereas regional governments exercise autonomy in areas like education and local law enforcement. In contrast, unitary systems like Great Britain and Japan centralize authority, although they may delegate powers through decentralization or devolution. It's important to note that the United States began under a confederal system with the Articles of Confederation but transitioned to a federal system with the drafting of the Constitution. This change was made to address the weaknesses in the central government that were evident under the Articles of Confederation.