What distinguishes a democracy from a confederacy?

A democracy is characterized by a more centralized form of governance compared to a confederacy. In a democratic system, power is often vested in a central authority that is responsible for making laws and policies for the entire nation or state. Citizens have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process, often through voting, which leads to the election of representatives who govern on their behalf.

In contrast, a confederacy consists of a union of independent states or entities that retain significant control over their own affairs and often come together for specific purposes such as defense or trade. In a confederate system, the central authority has limited power and relies heavily on the agreement and cooperation of the member states, which means governance is more decentralized. This distinction in the distribution of power and authority is fundamental in understanding how democracies and confederacies operate differently in political contexts.