A confederation can best be described as
A) a form of socialism.
B) a loose association of independent states.
C) a government ruled by a dictator.
D) a government without a monarch.
E) smaller units of government controlled by a larger government unit.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: B) A loose association of independent states.
Explanation:
A confederation is a political system in which independent states come together to form a union while retaining their individual sovereignty. In this arrangement, the central government is typically weak and derives its authority from the member states, which voluntarily agree to delegate certain limited powers for purposes like defense or trade.
The key characteristic of a confederation is that the central authority has only as much power as the member states allow it to have. The states or regions maintain the majority of political power and can even choose to withdraw from the confederation if they disagree with its decisions.
Historically, examples of confederations include:
- The Articles of Confederation in early U.S. history (1781–1789), where each of the 13 American states maintained most of its independence and the central government had limited power.
- The Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, which emphasized states’ rights and limited central authority.
- The Swiss Confederation, especially in its early development, was a union of independent cantons.
Now, let’s break down why the other options are incorrect:
- A) A form of socialism – Socialism refers to an economic system, not a form of governmental structure like a confederation.
- C) A government ruled by a dictator – This refers to a dictatorship or autocracy, not a confederation.
- D) A government without a monarch – This could describe a republic, but not specifically a confederation.
- E) Smaller units of government controlled by a larger government unit – This describes a unitary system, the opposite of a confederation.
In summary, a confederation is best defined as a loose association of independent states that cooperate on limited matters while maintaining their sovereignty.