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 is 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.

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