Which describes the relationship of states under a confederation?

• A. States retain sovereignty but cooperate for common goals
• B. A single national government holds all power
• C. The national government can veto state laws easily
• D. States have no independence

Answer: (A)

In a confederation, states keep their own sovereignty and come together mainly to pursue shared goals, while the central government has limited, delegated powers and depends on the states for enforcement and funding. This setup means each state governs itself and only cedes modest authority to a national level to tackle common interests like defense or diplomacy, rather than a strong centralized rule.

That’s why the best description is that states retain sovereignty but cooperate for common goals. The national authority in a confederation is typically weak and cannot easily override state laws or compel states to act; decisions often require mutual agreement among the member states.

The other options describe situations that don’t fit a confederation: a single national government holding all power points to a unitary or highly centralized system, not a confederation; the idea that the national government can veto state laws easily contradicts how a confederal system operates; and the notion that states have no independence outright denies the essential sovereignty of member states in a confederation.