Limitations of the Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, functioned as the first constitution of the United States, laying out a framework for a national government. However, the Articles created a confederation that limited the powers of the national government significantly, requiring supermajorities for legislative actions and lacking an executive or judiciary branch. The failure to address key issues like taxation and interstate trade regulation ultimately led to calls for reform. In 1787, this dissatisfaction culminated in the Constitutional Convention. Given this context, which of the following statements correctly articulates a significant limitation of the Articles of Confederation?