The passage below is from a historical document Art. II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled. How does the U.S. Constitution address concerns that resulted from the government described in this passage? (1 point) Responses The new government could enforce treaties between the states. The new government could enforce treaties between the states. The new government could regulate trade between the states. The new government could regulate trade between the states. The new government could levy taxes between the states. The new government could levy taxes between the states. The new government could settle disputes between the states.

1 answer

The passage you provided reflects concerns about the limitations of the government under the Articles of Confederation, particularly regarding the lack of a centralized authority to effectively manage issues between the states. The U.S. Constitution addressed these concerns in several key ways.

  1. Enforcement of Treaties: The Constitution gives the federal government the authority to enforce treaties, which helps ensure that agreements made between states or with foreign nations are upheld.

  2. Regulation of Trade: The Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce both among the states and with foreign nations. This was intended to prevent states from imposing tariffs on each other and to create a more unified economic policy.

  3. Levying Taxes: Unlike the Articles of Confederation, which lacked the power to levy taxes, the Constitution allows the federal government to collect taxes, which provides it with the necessary resources to function and meet national needs.

  4. Settlement of Disputes: The Constitution establishes a federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court, to resolve disputes between states, providing a formal mechanism for conflict resolution that did not exist under the Articles of Confederation.

In summary, the U.S. Constitution resolved these governance issues by creating a stronger federal government with the authority to enforce treaties, regulate trade, levy taxes, and resolve disputes, addressing the weaknesses noted in the passage from the historical document.