Final answer:
The government under the Articles of Confederation operated as a weak confederation with limited powers. The central government, known as the Continental Congress, had the authority to conduct certain important functions but lacked the power to raise taxes or regulate trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government under the Articles of Confederation typically operated with limited powers compared to the current national government. It was structured as a confederation, where states had greater authority and the central government had limited powers.
In addition to this, the central government, known as the Continental Congress, had the power to make war and peace, send and receive ambassadors, coin money, regulate Indian affairs, and run a post office. However, it could not raise taxes or regulate trade. Each state had one vote, and changes to the Articles required unanimous approval of all thirteen states.