A major weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the absence of which power?

A major weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the absence of which power?

• A. The power to impose taxes
• B. An executive branch
• C. The power to regulate interstate commerce
• D. The power to coin money

Answer: (B)

The key weakness is the absence of an executive branch to carry out laws and coordinate national policy. Under the Articles, there was no president or other national leader to enforce decisions, administer programs, or respond quickly to crises. That gap meant that even when Congress passed measures—like decisions on diplomacy, military needs, or financing—there was no central authority to implement them or compel the states to cooperate. This made the government look strong in theory but weak in practice, so essential functions could stall or fail. The lack of an executive is the best answer because it directly explains why the national government couldn’t effectively run the country, enforce laws, or coordinate actions across the states.

The key weakness is the absence of an executive branch to carry out laws and coordinate national policy. Under the Articles, there was no president or other national leader to enforce decisions, administer programs, or respond quickly to crises. That gap meant that even when Congress passed measures—like decisions on diplomacy, military needs, or financing—there was no central authority to implement them or compel the states to cooperate. This made the government look strong in theory but weak in practice, so essential functions could stall or fail. The lack of an executive is the best answer because it directly explains why the national government couldn’t effectively run the country, enforce laws, or coordinate actions across the states.