Federation vs. Union — What's the Difference?

Shared Sovereignty.

Flexible Structure.

Political Entity.

General Concept.

State Governments.

Common Goals.

Constitution-Based.

Variety of Forms.

Central Government.

Integration Levels.

A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governing status of the component states, as well as the division of power between them and the central government, is typically constitutionally entrenched and may not be altered by a unilateral decision of either party, the states or the federal political body.

The act of uniting or the state of being united.

The act of federating, especially a joining together of states into a league or federal union.

A combination so formed, especially an alliance or confederation of people, parties, or political entities for mutual interest or benefit.

A league or association formed by federating, especially a government or political body established through federal union.

(Mathematics) A set, every member of which is an element of one or another of two or more given sets.

Act of joining together into a single political entity.

Agreement or harmony resulting from the uniting of individuals; concord.

Array of nations or states that are unified under one central authority which is elected by its members.

The state of matrimony; marriage

Any society or organisation formed from separate groups or bodies.

A combination of parishes for joint administration of relief for the poor in Great Britain.

A collection of network or telecommunication providers that offer interoperability.

A workhouse maintained by such a union.

(Australia) Of an architectural style popular around the time of federation.

A labor union.

The act of uniting in a league; confederation.

A coupling device for connecting parts, such as pipes or rods.

A league; a confederacy; a federal or confederated government.

A device on a flag or ensign, occupying the upper inner corner or the entire field, that signifies the union of two or more sovereignties.

An organization formed by merging several groups or parties

An organization at a college or university that provides facilities for recreation; a student union.

A union of political organizations

A building housing such facilities.

The act of constituting a political unity out of a number of separate states or colonies or provinces so that each member retains the management of its internal affairs

Union The United States of America regarded as a national unit, especially during the Civil War.

Union Of, relating to, or loyal to the United States of America during the Civil War

Of or relating to a labor union or labor union organizing

(countable) The act of uniting or joining two or more things into one.

(countable) The state of being united or joined; a state of unity or harmony.

(countable) That which is united, or made one; something formed by a combination or coalition of parts or members; a confederation; a consolidated body; a league.

(countable) A trade union; a workers' union.

(countable) An association of students at a university for social and/or political purposes; also in some cases a debating body.

(countable) A joint or other connection uniting parts of machinery, such as pipes.

The set containing all of the elements of two or more sets.

(countable) The act or state of marriage.

A data structure that can store any of various types of item, but only one at a time.

A large, high-quality pearl.

(historical) An affiliation of several parishes for joint support and management of their poor; also the jointly-owned workhouse.

To combine sets using the union operation.

Belonging to, represented by, or otherwise pertaining to a labour union.

The act of uniting or joining two or more things into one, or the state of being united or joined; junction; coalition; combination.

Agreement and conjunction of mind, spirit, will, affections, or the like; harmony; concord.

That which is united, or made one; something formed by a combination or coalition of parts or members; a confederation; a consolidated body; a league; as, the weavers have formed a union; trades unions have become very numerous; the United States of America are often called the Union.

A textile fabric composed of two or more materials, as cotton, silk, wool, etc., woven together.

A large, fine pearl.

A device emblematic of union, used on a national flag or ensign, sometimes, as in the military standard of Great Britain, covering the whole field; sometimes, as in the flag of the United States, and the English naval and marine flag, occupying the upper inner corner, the rest of the flag being called the fly. Also, a flag having such a device; especially, the flag of Great Britain.

A joint or other connection uniting parts of machinery, or the like, as the elastic pipe of a tender connecting it with the feed pipe of a locomotive engine; especially, a pipe fitting for connecting pipes, or pipes and fittings, in such a way as to facilitate disconnection.

A cask suspended on trunnions, in which fermentation is carried on.

An organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer;

The United States (especially the northern states during the American Civil War);

The act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes;

The state of being joined or united or linked;

The state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce);

Healing process involving the growing together of the edges of a wound or the growing together of broken bones

A political unit formed from previously independent people or organizations;

A set containing all and only the members of two or more given sets;

The occurrence of a uniting of separate parts;

A device on a national flag emblematic of the union of two or more sovereignties (typically in the upper inner corner)

The act of making or becoming a single unit;

Being of or having to do with the northern United States and those loyal to the Union during the Civil War;

Of trade unions;

A union refers to the act or state of being united or joined, which can be applied to political, economic, or social contexts.

A federation has a constitutional framework that defines the power balance between the central government and its constituent parts, whereas a union's governance can vary widely.

Federations require a central government, while unions may or may not have a central governing authority, depending on their nature and purpose.

A federation is a form of government where multiple states or regions come together under a central federal government, each maintaining certain independent powers.

Some unions may have agreements or treaties that serve as a governing document, but these are generally less rigid than a federation's constitution.

In a federation, power distribution is constitutionally defined, while in a union, it can be flexible and negotiated among the members.

States in a federation share sovereignty with the federal government, having autonomy in certain areas while ceding others to the central authority.

Examples include the United States, Germany, and Australia, where there is a structured division of powers between federal and state levels.

Yes, economic unions like the European Union are formed to promote economic cooperation and integration among member states.

Yes, individuals can be members of certain types of unions, like labor unions, which protect workers' rights and interests.

The European Union is a unique example of a union, characterized by political and economic integration among sovereign states, but it does not have the full shared sovereignty of a federation.

In a federation, there are two levels of laws: federal laws, which apply nationally, and state laws, which apply within individual states or regions.

Federations, as sovereign entities, participate in international relations through their central governments, representing the interests of all constituent states on the global stage.

Federations often allow for regional autonomy in certain areas, whereas unions may adopt policies or agreements that respect member states' differences while pursuing common goals.

In theory, a union can evolve into a federation if its member states agree to adopt a constitutional framework that establishes a federal government.