Which form of governance has independent states joining together for defense with a weak central government?

• A. Federalism
• B. Confederation
• C. Unitary State
• D. Democracy

Answer: (B)

A confederation is a loose alliance of independent states that join together to handle common goals—most notably defense—while keeping most sovereignty in the hands of the member states and giving the central authority only limited, dependent powers. In this setup the central body can enforce little on its own; it relies on the states to provide troops, funds, and compliance, and states can often resist or withdraw from decisions. That’s why it’s described as having a weak central government—the strength lies with the individual states, not with a strong central authority.

This contrasts with federalism, where the central government has constitutional powers that can act directly across the whole union and share authority with subnational units. It also differs from a unitary state, where the central government holds the primary and often overwhelming authority over subnational regions. Democracy, while about governance by the people, doesn’t specify this structural arrangement of central and regional power. An example you’ll sometimes see referenced is the historical United States under the Articles of Confederation, where states kept most control and the center was weak.