Should sovereignty – the ultimate political authority – lie with the central government or with the separate states?
• Under a federal government, the 13 states would surrender their individual sovereignty to a stronger central authority. Thus, a federal government could veto state laws, enact general and uniform legislation that all states must obey, and use arms to subdue rebellion in the states. • Under a national government, the 13 state governments would exercise ultimate sovereignty over their own affairs. Thus, the state governments would give few powers to a central government and limit such powers largely to those of national defense.
