a. Under the articles of Confederation, the balance of power between the States and Central government leaned to the Central Government. The Central government had supremacy over the state governments. State governments existed to serve the Confederate Government. This led to problems early on because states did not feel that they had enough say in the national government. They could not control trade in and out of their states, they couldn't make agreements with other nations, and they couldn't print their own money. They were taxed by the Confederate government and they were forced to send their troops to the national military.
b. The parts of the Articles of Confederation that American leaders wanted to keep were: They wanted to keep aspects that allowed states to refuse trade and travel with other states. They wanted to allow states to print their own money, and they wanted states to be able to make treaties with other nations without the approval of the national government.