the next most palpable defect of the subsisting confederation, is the total want of a sanction to its laws. the united states, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions, either by pecuniary [fines], by a suspension or divestiture of privileges, or by any other constitutional mode. there is no express delegation of authority to them to use force against delinquent members; and if such a right should be ascribed to the federal head, as resulting from the nature of the social compact between the states, it must be by inference and construction... there is, doubtless, a striking absurdity in supposing that a right of this kind does not exist. . . alexander hamilton, the federalist 21 question based on the federalist 21, which of the following arguments about government would hamilton likely agree with? responses the national government, by natural right, has more power than the state governments. the national government, by natural right, has more power than the state governments. separation of powers means that the national government is limited to passing only legislation that all the states want. separation of powers means that the national government is limited to passing only legislation that all the states want. under federalism, the states retain more power than the national government. under federalism, the states retain more power than the national government. as a practical matter, the laws of the national government ought to have supremacy over state laws.