Which is a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• A. No executive, no judiciary, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade
• B. A strong central tax authority
• C. A national court system with appellate review
• D. Unicameral legislature guaranteed to all states

Answer: (A)

The central idea is that the Articles of Confederation created a government with serious limits on power, especially in areas essential for a functioning nation. There was no executive to enforce laws, no national court system to resolve disputes or interpret laws, and no power to tax or regulate trade. Without an executive or judiciary, laws could not be consistently carried out or adjudicated. Without the power to tax, the national government depended on asking states for funds, which often didn’t come, leaving the government unable to pay debts or support a military. Without the power to regulate commerce, states could impose their own taxes and trade barriers, creating economic chaos and weakening national unity. These gaps made the national government ineffective and inconsistent with the needs of a growing country, which is why this option correctly identifies the major weaknesses.

The other statements describe features that would have strengthened the government, which the Articles did not provide, such as a central tax authority or a national court system, or a guaranteed unicameral structure. Their absence in the Articles helps explain why those descriptions don’t reflect how the Articles actually functioned.