Final answer:
The power of the government under the Articles of Confederation originated mainly from the states, with a weak national authority. James Madison, on the other hand, advocated for a balanced federal system with a stronger national government that had specific enumerated powers, as reflected in the Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the sources of governmental power according to the Articles of Confederation and the views of James Madison. Under the Articles of Confederation, the power of the government was derived from the states, with the national government having limited authority. Notably, Madison's ideas outlined in the Federalist Papers and his role in framing the U.S. Constitution suggests that while states retain numerous and undefined powers, the national government's powers are few and defined.
During the Constitutional Convention, Madison advocated for a stronger central government with separate legislative, judicial and executive branches, the power of taxation, and a veto over state laws. His tract, Vices of the Political System of the United States, criticized the weak central government established by the Articles of Confederation and argued for a structure that could better represent and serve the 'common interest' of the citizens.
In the Federalist Paper No. 39, Madison described the American system as neither wholly centralized nor a mere confederation, but rather a unique mixture of both, which balanced the division of powers between the national and state governments.