what power did the federal government NOT HAVE under the Articles Of Confederation?

Question

Hey i need help with this question. Please don't leave "answers" saying that you don't know. It drives me insane.

Answer 1

That's an open ended question. Congress was almost powerless. Congress could declare war, but could not force states to send troops. Congress could not tax; it could only ask the states for money. And congress could not pass laws. And so on....

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...Congress could make decisions, but had no power to enforce them. Perhaps an even larger setback was retained in the fact that unanimous approval was required by all 13 states before any modifications could be made to the Articles. This prohibited many necessary changes from taking place until the later ratification of the Constitution.

Perhaps the most important power that Congress was denied was the power of taxation: Congress could only request money from the states. Understandably, the states did not generally comply with the requests in full, leaving the confederation chronically short of funds. The states and the national congress had both incurred debts during the war, and paying congressional debts became a major issue.....

Answer 2

Almost none. The ardent revolutionary efforts to thwart tyranny by denying the central government the power to tax had backfired, as the country suffered economic unrest and social tension. Diplomatic failures ensued, and a weakened government with a small and poorly equipped peacetime army proved incapable of protecting and supplying settlers on the western frontier. From Shmoop

Answer 3

The power to tax was the most important. However, they also could not pass laws without at least 9 out of 13 states approving the law, rendering them almost helpless.

Answer 4

The Federal Government had no power to tax individuals.

Answer 5

no power to tax and needed 9 of 13 states to approve laws. very weak central government.