It was difficult for Congress to fulfill its duties under the Articles of Confederation because Congress lacked the power to regulate foreign trade, and most congressional decisions required the approval of at least nine states.
Explanation:
According to the Articles of Confederation, the member states had their own foreign policy and armed forces. Member states also had the right to resign from the Confederacy. Each member state had one vote in the Unicameral Congress. The Congress elected a committee consisting of one representative from each member state to conduct the foreign and security policy. It elected a president from among its members for a year at a time. Congress had little power because it had no taxing power and could not make decisions binding on member states. In nominal terms, Congress had the power to conduct foreign, military and monetary policy, but it could not compel a member state to allocate funds. With the exception of foreign policy, the decisions of the central government were only recommendations which were not binding on the states and for which the central government had no powers, prerogatives or military powers. All major decisions also required the unanimity of the states.
