Final answer:
A confederation limits the central government's power by giving local governments the majority of governing authority, often resulting in a weak national government that lacks essential governing capabilities, such as taxation and trade regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A confederation limits the power of a central government by ensuring that the majority of the power resides with the local governments or individual states. Under the Articles of Confederation, for example, the central government did not have the authority to make its own laws, tax, or enforce trade agreements; the states had superiority in these areas. The Confederation Congress had limited powers, which included conducting foreign diplomacy, declaring war, and creating land ordinances but lacked authority over important functions like taxation and trade regulation. These limitations often resulted in a lack of effective national governance.