Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government had very limited powers, and it was primarily a confederation of sovereign states. Here's a brief overview of the powers mentioned:
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Taxation: The national government did not have the power to directly tax citizens; it could only request funds from the states, which often did not comply, leading to financial instability.
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Enforcing Laws: The national government had no power to enforce laws. It could create laws, but there was no executive branch or national police force to enforce them; enforcement was left to the states.
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Commercial Policy: The national government lacked the authority to regulate commerce among the states or with foreign nations. Each state could impose its own tariffs and trade regulations, resulting in economic discord.
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Conducting Foreign Affairs: While the national government could conduct foreign affairs and negotiate treaties, it was often ineffective due to the need for unanimous consent from the states and the lack of an executive branch to ensure compliance with these agreements.
Overall, the Articles of Confederation created a weak national government with limited authority, which eventually led to its replacement by the U.S. Constitution to create a stronger federal system.
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