Meaning and Features of Confederal System of Government

What is a Confederation?

A confederation is a loose political union accommodating independent sovereignSovereign has everything to do with power. It often describes a person who has supreme power or authority, such as a king or queen. More states, with the intention of coming together to cooperate in some vital areas e.g. sports, military, and trade with each state while retaining its sovereigntySovereignty is a political concept that refers to dominant power or supreme authority. In a monarchy, supreme power resides in the "sovereign", or king. In modern democracies, sovereign power rests with... More.

The centre is weak and the confederating units strong, especially in the performance of political or other issues e.g. Confederation of African Football, Commonwealth, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), etc.

Another example was the Senegambia Confederation which was a loose confederation in the late 20^th century between the West African countries of Senegal and its neighbour the Gambia. It was founded in February 1982 and dissolved in September 1989.

Features of Confederation:

(i) It has a weak centre. The component units exercise greater power.

(ii) Confederating units are nearly autonomousAutonomy is the control or government of a country, organization, or group by itself rather than by others. More.

(iv) Secessionthe action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state. More of any component unit is constitutionally allowed.

(v) Exclusive lists are reserved for the confederating units.

(vi) Each confederating unit retains its identity.

(vii) The confederacy depends on the financial contributions of the federating units.

(viii) Component units develop at their own pace.

(ix) Component units cooperate in specific areas such as foreign affairs, currency, defence etc.

(x) Citizens pay more allegiance to the component units than to the centre.