In this article you will learn about the Difference Between Federation and Confederation in Political Science.
Difference Between Federation and Confederation
In order to be more clear about the meaning of federation, it is essential to understand the difference between Federation and Confederation.
Federation is a state with one central (federal) government and several state governments existing side by side with the former acting for the whole territory and all the people of the state, and the latter acting within their respective state (non sovereign states) or provisions.
Confederation is an association of sovereign independent states. It is made by them for carrying out a definite limited objective through the performance of some mutually agreed, defined and specified function or functions. Several sovereign states form a common government which is formed by their delegates who act as the representatives of the member states of the Confederation. The common government is called the confederal government and it is entrusted with some specified functions. The delegates of the sovereign states, who form the Confederal government, represent the interests of their respective states.
The member states of a Confederation retain their sovereignties and independent statuses. These do not merge to form a single big sovereign state. These simply organise a common confederal government for satisfying a shared or common need or some needs. A Confederation is usually organised through a treaty or an agreement among some sovereign states, which clearly lays down the organisation, functions and powers of the Confederal Government.
According to Hall : “A Confederation is a union strictly of independent states which consent to forgo a part or their liberty of action for certain specific objectives.”
Basic Points of Difference Between Federation and Confederation
1. Confederation is a Loose Union whereas Federation is a Complete Union. Confederation is a loose union in which each member state retains its sovereign independent entity. But a federation is a full and complete union where the member states merge to form a big single sovereign state and they lose their separate sovereignties.
2. Confederation is based on an International Treaty among sovereign states whereas Federation comes into existence by an agreement or a mutual treaty.
3. Confederal Government is a very limited organisation but Federal Government is a central and powerful government. In a confederation, the confederal or the central government is given a specified function, some defined functions which are to be performed for securing some limited objectives. In a federation, the central government or the federal government is allocated for the governance of all the subjects of national importance. A confederal government on the other hand has a limited, defined and specific power for securing some defined objectives.
4. A Confederal Government exercises only delegated powers while a Federal Government exercises a large amount of powers assigned to it by the Constitution of the State.
5. Federation works under a Constitution and Confederation works under a Treaty and each member state has its own sovereign constitution.
6. Federation is a permanent and perpetual union. The states forming the parts of it do not have the right to secede the Federal State. As against it, a Confederation is an Ad-hoc Union or a loose organisation in which each member state retains its sovereign independent character and can withdraw from it at any time.
7. Federation is one Nation-State, it builds a new nation while a confederation is and continues to remain a group of separate nations.
Therefore, Federation and Confederation are two distinct and different forms of state.
This article on Difference Between Federation and Confederation in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.