Confederation

A confederation is a political union where independent states or regions retain significant autonomy while delegating limited powers to a central authority—think of it as a looser arrangement than a federal system. For expats, understanding confederations matters because they shape how laws, taxes, and services are organized across different territories; Switzerland and the EU operate on confederal principles, which means your rights, employment rules, and administrative procedures can vary substantially depending on which canton or member state you're in.