Final answer:
Under the Articles of Confederation, the power to write, administer, and enforce laws was largely given to the individual state governments. The national government was weak and subordinate, and its laws were non-binding for the states. This structure of government was replaced by the Constitution in 1787, which strengthened the central governmental authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Articles of Confederation, the power to write, administer, and enforce laws was primarily given to the individual state governments. The Articles authorized a unicameral legislature and established a government without an executive office or a national judiciary. The power was highly decentralized, and the national government was subordinate and weak.
The national Congress was composed of state delegations and any laws enacted by it were non-binding, with the individual states having the option to enforce them or not. Additionally, passing any law under the Articles required the consensus of nine states, while amending the Articles required unanimity. This mechanism made the national government largely ineffective in forming and implementing key policies.
The shortcomings and inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation led to its eventual replacement by the Constitution in 1787. The Constitution significantly strengthened the country's central governmental authority, articulating clearer powers for the Federal Government, including the power to impose taxes and regulate interstate commerce.
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