A unitary state or federation may decentralize powers to regional or local entities in a confederal form. In a non-political context, confederation is used to describe a type of organization which consolidates authority from other autonomous (or semi-autonomous) bodies. Examples include sports confederations or confederations of pan-European trades union.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederation
Historical confederations (especially those predating the 20th century) may not fit the current definition of a confederation, may be proclaimed as a federation but be confederal (or the reverse), and may not show any qualities that 21st-century political scientists might classify as those of a confederation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederation
It was further matured, and the faith of all the then thirteen States expressly plighted and engaged that it should be perpetual, by the Articles of Confederation in 1778.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Articles+of+Confederation
The founders also specified a process by which the Constitution may be amended, and since its ratification, the Constitution has been amended 27 times. In order to prevent arbitrary changes, the process for making amendments is quite onerous.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/constitution
Empowered with the sovereign authority of the people by the framers and the consent of the legislatures of the states, it is the source of all government powers, and also provides important limitations on the government that protect the fundamental rights of United States citizens.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/constitution
Ratification. The process set out in the Constitution for its ratification provided for much popular debate in the states. The Constitution would take effect once it had been ratified by nine of the thirteen state legislatures -- unanimity was not required.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/constitution
The need for the Constitution grew out of problems with the Articles of Confederation, which established a firm league of friendship between the states, and vested most power in a Congress of the Confederation.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/constitution
A confederation (also known as confederacy or league) is a union of political units for common action in relation to other units.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederation
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States. Learn more about our founding document.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/constitution
1. Articles of Confederation-a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states; it provided a legal symbol of their union by giving the central government no coercive power over the states or their citizens. 1  Facebook. 2  Twitter.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Articles+of+Confederation
definition of confederation
A confederation is a union of political units for common action in relation to other units. Confederation means a union of political units for common action in relation to other units.