An organization consisting of a number of parties united in an alliance, with central authority but major power resides in member states. Which term best fits this description?

An organization consisting of a number of parties united in an alliance, with central authority but major power resides in member states. Which term best fits this description?

• A. Federation
• B. Confederation
• C. Union
• D. Monarchy

Answer: (D)

The arrangement described is a confederation. In a confederation, several independent states unite to form a central authority for handling shared concerns, but the bulk of political power stays with the member states and sovereignty remains primarily at the state level. The central government exists to manage common interests—like defense or diplomacy—but it relies on the states to enforce its decisions and to fund its operations. If it were a federation, the central government would hold substantial authority and the states would share sovereignty with the center rather than retain most of it. A monarchy centers on a hereditary ruler, not on the distribution of power between a central authority and member states, and a union is too general a term to capture this specific balance of power.

The arrangement described is a confederation. In a confederation, several independent states unite to form a central authority for handling shared concerns, but the bulk of political power stays with the member states and sovereignty remains primarily at the state level. The central government exists to manage common interests—like defense or diplomacy—but it relies on the states to enforce its decisions and to fund its operations. If it were a federation, the central government would hold substantial authority and the states would share sovereignty with the center rather than retain most of it. A monarchy centers on a hereditary ruler, not on the distribution of power between a central authority and member states, and a union is too general a term to capture this specific balance of power.