Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had very limited powers, and there were several significant powers that were not granted to it. Notably:
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Force states to provide soldiers: Congress did not have the authority to compel states to contribute military forces or resources. This limitation became a critical issue, especially during times of conflict.
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Protect the liberties within the Declaration of Independence: While Congress could make recommendations for protecting liberties, it lacked the power to enforce laws or protections consistently across the states.
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Issue coins and borrow money: Congress was able to issue coins and borrow money, but it often faced difficulties in doing so effectively due to the lack of power to impose taxes.
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Make treaties: Congress had the authority to make treaties, but it had to rely on the states to honor those treaties, which could lead to noncompliance.
Overall, the Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that struggled to govern effectively, mainly due to these limitations on Congressional power.