* In a confederation, states remain fully sovereign and independent nations. The central body exists only at their discretion. In a federation, sovereignty is constitutionally divided between the central (federal) government and the constituent states/provinces.

* A confederation's central body has only the powers *explicitly delegated* by the states. It typically cannot make laws directly applicable to individuals within the states; it deals with the state governments. A federation's central government has significant, independent powers (often enumerated in a constitution) and can make laws directly binding on individuals throughout the federation.

The U.S. Constitution established all defining traits of a federation:

- Divided Sovereignty : Power explicitly split between federal and state governments (Articles I–III, Tenth Amendment)

- Supremacy Clause. : Federal law overrides state law (Article VI, Clause 2)

- Direct Governance : Federal laws bind individuals directly (e.g., federal taxes, crimes)

- No Right of Secession : Implied by the Constitution's permanence; explicitly affirmed in *Texas v. White* (1869)

Disclaimer : The majority of the text in this reply generated by an LLM (to save me the effort)