The terms Federation or Confederation have no meaning to any citisen. I will repeat again what is important to any citisen is his private life and well being.
Switserland as far as I know it is functioning as a confederation and NOONE here in this forum can say that switserland is not a functional or even prosperous country!
Belgium It is functioning as a federation , and still Belgium is a functional and prosperous country.
Iran is neither a federation or a confederation ( please correct me If I am wrong ) and anyone can identify many weaknesses on its economy , peoplel freedom and well being etc .
So to conclude the terms Federation or confeferation have nop meaning at all