Question

No state shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor more than seven Members.... In determining questions in the united states, in Congress assembled, each State shall have one vote. What weakness of the Articles of Confederation is revealed within this quotation? A) The Articles did not specify a leader for the Congress.

B) The Congress did not have an established number of members. C) Each state had the same voting power, regardless of population.
D) Congress could not act without all of the states present.

Answer 1

The weakness of the Articles of Confederation highlighted in the quotation is that each state had the same voting power regardless of population, resulting in unequal representation in Congress and legislative challenges.

Step-by-step explanation:

The quotation reveals a significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation, which is that each state had the same voting power, regardless of population. This issue meant that states had unequal influence in the Congress—small states had disproportionately more power than larger, more populous states. Despite the number of representatives, the system of one vote per state did not reflect the differences in state size and population.

Furthermore, the Articles of Confederation did not establish an executive branch or a national judiciary, meaning that even if Congress could make decisions, it lacked the means to enforce its laws effectively. The requirement for a supermajority or unanimous vote for crucial decisions was another aspect of its weakness, as it made the process of passing laws and amendments exceptionally difficult. This mechanism often led to legislative gridlock and inhibited the central government’s ability to act decisively.