What does Confederation mean?

• A. A division of powers between national and state governments
• B. A unitary, centralized national government
• C. That each state is basically a different tiny country but they still viewed themselves as one nation
• D. A direct democracy

Answer: (C)

Confederation describes a loose union of sovereign states that cooperate on shared goals while keeping their own independence. The central authority is weak and derives its power from the member states, so decisions often rely on the consent of those states. That means each state acts like its own tiny country, yet they view themselves as part of one broader nation for the purposes they choose to share.

This differs from a unitary system, where power is concentrated in a central government; and from a federation, where national and state governments share sovereign powers more evenly. It’s not about citizens voting directly on all choices, which would be a direct democracy.