The term 'Federation' is used to describe a variety of different types of organizations. AMALGAMATION, COMBINATION, COMMONWEALTH, COALITION, PARTNERSHIP, CONFEDERACY, GOVERNMENT, GROUP, ASSOCIATION, ALLIANCE, FUSION, UNION, LEAGUE, and United States are all terms that can be used to describe a Federation. An AMALGAMATION is the combining of two or more entities into one. A COMBINATION is the joining of two or more entities into one. A COMMONWEALTH is a GROUP of people or nations united by a common interest. A COALITION is a temporary ALLIANCE of individuals or groups with a common goal. A PARTNERSHIP is an agreement between two or more parties to work together towards a common goal. A CONFEDERACY is a UNION of states or other political entities with a central GOVERNMENT. A GOVERNMENT is a system of rule by which a state or community is governed. A GROUP is a number of persons or things that are gathered together or classified as a unit. An ASSOCIATION is a GROUP of people organized for a common purpose. An ALLIANCE is a UNION or ASSOCIATION formed for mutual benefit. FUSION is the merging of two or more entities into one. A UNION is a GROUP of people, countries, or other entities joined together in an ALLIANCE or LEAGUE. A LEAGUE is an ASSOCIATION of persons or groups united for a common purpose. The United States is a federal republic consisting of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions.