Who attributed the ineffectiveness of the federal government during this period to the lack of clear lines of authority and responsibility?

The Citizens

Explanation:

assuming you're talking about the United States before The Constitution was created and we were under the rule of the Articles of Confederation, the citizens and American people were responsible for the lack of clear lines of authority and respect. They had just escaped the monarchy of Great Britain and did not want to be ruled under something that seems to embody that's form. they made sure the state governments had more power and that the federal government had little to no power.