Confederation. Is it a union of states or a form of government?

To define the concept of "confederation" several approaches are used. Traditionally, this term characterizes an independent form of state structure, in which the countries that form it retain their independence, have their own governing bodies and state authorities. According to another approach, the confederation is a self-sufficient form that should be considered within the framework of federalism.

Adherents of the traditional understanding of the term indicate that the states that make up the structure form special united bodies, called upon to coordinate actions in the presence of certain goals (foreign policy, military). Thus, the confederation is a union of states that retain their sovereignty in full.

In addition, independence of the members of the state union remains inviolable, the national police, the monetary system, the army and other structures often remain unchanged. As a rule, a confederation is a temporary phenomenon. This union appears for a short period, with the aim of solving some public tasks. These tasks can be to unite efforts in any area of society: politics (internal or external), art or culture, military affairs, economics and so on. Usually the confederation does not have its own regulating and controlling bodies. As a rule, supervisory, supervisory or advisory structures are formed.

The federation and the confederation have historically formed together. However, in practice the second is extremely rare.

According to some authors, the confederation is a transitional form of the structure of the state system. Most often, that's why it exists for a short period. So, for example, there was in 1861 the Confederation of States of the South of America.

Along with this, there is an opinion that this form can later become quite common. In particular, it can become a constructive model of the device in the conditions of the collapse of major powers that had external signs of federation (as, for example, the USSR).

Thus, the union of states that have independence is united on the basis of an agreement on coordination of actions on a certain range of problems. As a rule, issues are resolved in the field of defense, customs tariffs and the system of postal communication, foreign policy.

There are other signs of confederation that distinguish it from other systems of the state system.

Thus, for example, the organs of an educated union do not have a direct impact on the constituent countries. In most cases, these bodies make their decisions in accordance with the consensus between the parties interested in any matter. In this case, the actual entry into force of decisions comes after their approval by the authorities in the respective states.

As a rule, the Confederation does not have a single tax and legal system. However, in this form of government can create one economic space, introduced a single currency and the institution of general citizenship.

In the confederation, the legislative power is most often represented by bicameral assemblies, which its subjects possess. There is no own legislative body in this structure. Instead, it is the Union Council, which is endowed with limited powers. It should be noted that in the modern world, most often the confederation is perceived not as a type of state structure, but as merely a community of states that have complete independence. And this union is created with certain goals. Thus, it is believed that the confederation is more of an international legal entity than a form of government.