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A confederation is an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution. Confederations tend to be established for dealing with critical issues, such as defence, foreign affairs, foreign trade, and a common currency, with the central government being required to provide support for all members. A confederation, in modern political terms, is usually limited to a permanent union of sovereign states for common action in relation to other statesOxford English Dictionary.

The nature of the relationship between the entities constituting a confederation varies considerably. Likewise, the relationship between the member states and the central government, and the distribution of powers among them, is highly variable. Some looser confederations are similar to international organizations, while tighter confederations may resemble federations.

In a non-political context, confederation is used to describe a type of organization which consolidates authority from other semi-autonomous bodies. Examples include sports confederations or confederations of Pan-European trade unions.

Confederation vs. Federation

Sometimes confederation is erroneously used in the place of federation. A confederation is a state or entity similar in pyramidal structure to a federation but with a weaker central government. A confederation may also consist of member states which, while temporarily pooling sovereignty in certain areas, are considered entirely sovereign and retain the right of secession. A confederation is sometimes a loose alliance but in other cases the distinction between a federation and a confederation may be ambiguous. In contrast to a federation, a member state may participate in more than one confederation.

Some nations which started out as confederations retained the word in their titles after officially becoming federations. The United States of America was first organized as a confederation under the Articles of Confederation and later became a federation with the ratification of the current Constitution of the United States in 1789. The American Civil War was a by-product of the formation of the break-away Confederate States of America by U.S. states allied in their desire to form a looser political union and retain more rights for themselves.

Confederation as a legal action

The noun confederation refers to the process of (or the event of) confederating; i.e., establishing a confederation (or by extension a federation). In Canada — a relatively decentralised federation — "Confederation" generally refers to the British North America Act, 1867 which initially united three colonies of British North America (Province of Canada, Province of New Brunswick and Province of Nova Scotia), and to the subsequent incorporation of other colonies and territories. Despite this use of the word "confederation," Canada is a federal state.

Confederation Day

Confederation Day (like Federation Day in federations) is frequently a holiday in confederations, equivalent to the United States' Independence Day for any entity that achieved statehood as such. This is often renamed or colloquially celebrated under a different name. In Canada, the French-language term for the national anniversary used to be Le Jour de la Confédération but is now Fête du Canada, literally 'Feast of Canada'. In English it was called first Dominion Day, then Canada Day, but never "Confederation Day".

List of entities considered to be confederations

Note that historical confederations, especially those predating the 20th century, may not fit the current definition of a confederation, may proclaimed as federation but be confederal, and may show some qualities that are today recognized as those of a federation.

Confederal states

Some have more characteristics of a personal union, but they are still listed here because of their own self-styling

International organisations

Fictional confederations

See also

References

Sources and External links

Constitutional state types | Forms of government | Federalism | political systems

Конфедерация | Konføderation | Staatenbund | Confederación | Confédération (État) | Confederazione | קונפדרציה | Konfederacija | Confederatie | Konføderasjon | Konføderasjon | Konfederacja | Confederação | Конфедерация | Konfederation | Konfederasyon | 邦联制

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Confederation".

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