Study Aid: The Articles of Confederation

Deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation

• No separate executive branch to carry out the laws of Congress
• No national judiciary to handle offenses against the central government’s laws or to settle disputes between states
• Congress did not have the power to levy taxes
• Congress could not regulate interstate and foreign commerce
• The states as well as Congress had the power to coin money, no national currency
• Congress could not support an army or navy and was dependent on state militias
• Nine states had to approve every law
• Amendment of the Articles required unanimous consent of all states and Congress
• Central government alone can declare war, but war is funded through state legislatures
• Only one vote in Congress per state; one representative alone speaks for the entire state