Which term describes a political arrangement where states maintain sovereignty but join in common causes?

• A. Confederation
• B. Virginia plan
• C. Madisonian model
• D. Public goods

Answer: (A)

A confederation describes a political arrangement in which states maintain their sovereignty and join together to handle certain common concerns, like defense or diplomacy. The central authority in a confederation is limited and relies on the states to carry out its decisions, since the states retain the primary power. This setup emphasizes that the national government’s legs are only as strong as the states’ willingness to support or fund its actions. Historically, the United States under the Articles of Confederation operated this way: states kept most authority, while the central government handled foreign affairs and defense but lacked independent power to tax or enforce its laws.

The other options don’t fit this description. The Virginia Plan envisioned a strong national government with substantial centralized power, which isn’t about preserving state sovereignty. The Madisonian model is about the structural design of government to curb factionalism and tyranny within a broader federal system, not the specific arrangement where states remain sovereign. Public goods refer to benefits provided by the government for the entire society, not a description of how states relate to a central authority.