AP®︎ U.S. Government & Politics: Topic 1.4 Flashcards

The first U.S. national framework, in force from 1781 to 1789, that created a loose union while leaving most governing authority with the states

A loose association in which member states retain most governing authority and the common government depends heavily on their cooperation

Article II preserved each state’s sovereignty, freedom, independence, and every power not expressly delegated to the United States

A unicameral national legislature in which each state had one vote regardless of population

Important congressional decisions required approval from nine of the thirteen states

An amendment required congressional approval and confirmation by every state legislature

Congress depended on states to provide troops and money and had little power to compel them, leaving it unable to maintain or deploy a reliable national force

A 1786–1787 uprising of indebted western Massachusetts farmers; the Confederation government could not quickly fund and deploy a sufficient force, so Massachusetts suppressed it with a state militia

Congressional requests for states to contribute specified sums because Congress could not levy taxes directly on individuals

There was no independent chief executive responsible for carrying national laws into effect, so congressional decisions depended heavily on state implementation

There was no standing national judiciary with general authority to interpret and enforce national law consistently across the states

Congress could not impose uniform rules on trade among states, allowing conflicting duties, restrictions, and retaliatory policies to fragment the national market

Congress had monetary authority, but states also issued money, preventing a uniform and stable national monetary system

All states benefited from national defense, stable commerce, and public credit, but each had incentives to withhold resources and protect its own autonomy

A 1786 meeting called to address commercial problems that recommended a broader convention to reform the national government