Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution of 1787 was a significant departure from the Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution from 1781. One of the most notable changes was the establishment of three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This addressed the absence of an executive branch under the Articles of Confederation, which had created a weak central government. The Constitution's establishment of the executive branch, led by the President, rectified this issue and provided a stronger federal government with the ability to enforce laws and address internal rebellions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How did the Constitution fix the absence of an executive branch? | The Constitution established the executive branch, with power vested in the President. |
| How did the Constitution fix the absence of a judicial branch? | The Constitution established the judicial branch, which includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts. |
| How did the Constitution fix the issue of a weak central government? | The Constitution created a federal system of government, granting more power to the federal government over money, taxes, and interstate commerce. It also established a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives and the Senate. |
| How did the Constitution fix the issue of states creating their own currency? | The Constitution barred states from creating their own currency and granted the federal government the power to coin money and regulate interstate commerce. |
| How did the Constitution fix the issue of no national power of taxation? | The Constitution granted the federal government the power to tax individuals and regulate commerce, addressing the issue of "Taxation without Representation." |
| How did the Constitution fix the issue of a lack of a unified military? | The Constitution gave Congress the power to create, provide for, and maintain the military, including the army and navy, and to organize, arm, and discipline the militia. |
Explore related products
$31.49 $66
What You'll Learn
The Constitution created three branches of government
The United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, created three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This was a significant change from the Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution from 1781 to 1789.
The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. It lacked an executive branch and a national power of taxation, and it did not provide an effective way to address internal rebellions or enforce its laws.
The Constitution addressed these shortcomings by creating a federal system of government with three separate but equal branches. The legislative branch (Congress) is responsible for making laws, the executive branch (the President) enforces the laws, and the judicial branch (the Supreme Court and other federal courts) interprets the laws. This separation of powers ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful and creates a system of checks and balances.
The Constitution also gave the federal government more power over money and taxes. It allowed Congress to control interstate commerce, levy taxes on individuals, and regulate commerce with foreign nations, among other powers. These changes strengthened the national government and provided a more effective form of governance for the country.
US and Ohio Constitutions: Similarities and Shared Values
You may want to see also
It established the executive branch, led by the President
The United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, established the executive branch of the government, led by the President. This was a significant change from the Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution from 1781 to 1789 and did not include an executive branch.
The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. It provided for a weak executive branch, with no national power of taxation and voting by states. The lack of a strong executive branch, along with other weaknesses, led Nationalists led by prominent figures such as James Madison, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton to work towards strengthening the federal government.
The Constitution addressed this issue by creating a separate and equal executive branch, led by the President. This branch is responsible for enforcing the laws created by the legislative branch. The establishment of the executive branch as part of the Constitution's creation of a federal system of government helped to ensure that power would not be concentrated in a single branch, creating a system of checks and balances.
The Constitution also granted the federal government more power over money and taxes, including the power to tax individuals, control interstate commerce, and prohibit states from creating their own currency. These changes addressed the issues faced under the Articles of Confederation, where the central government lacked the power to tax and had to rely on requesting money from the states, hindering its ability to fund essential functions such as paying debts and supporting the military.
The establishment of the executive branch, led by the President, was a crucial aspect of the Constitution's creation of a stronger and more effective federal government, addressing the shortcomings of the previous system under the Articles of Confederation.
US Constitution: Blueprint for Court Systems?
You may want to see also
The federal government was given more power over money and taxes
The Articles of Confederation, the United States' first constitution, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and ratified by all 13 states on March 1, 1781. The Articles established a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. It also provided for a weak executive branch and no national power of taxation.
The Constitution of 1787 created a federal system of government, establishing the executive branch, with the President at its head, and granting the federal government more power over money and taxes. The new system of government allowed Congress to control interstate commerce and barred states from creating their own coined money. It also granted Congress the power to tax individuals, which was essential for paying debts, raising and supporting the military, paying Congress, and funding other functions.
The Constitution also gave Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states, and with the Indian tribes. Additionally, it provided Congress with the ability to create and maintain an army and a navy, and to organize, arm, and discipline the militia.
The creation of the three branches of government – the executive, legislative, and judicial – ensured that power would not be concentrated in a single branch. The legislative branch makes the law, the executive branch enforces the law, and the judicial branch interprets the law. This separation of powers created a system of checks and balances, with each branch having its own authority, but also depending on the authority of the other branches for the government to function effectively.
The Massachusetts Constitution: An Enabling Act?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$35.95 $35.95
States were barred from creating their own currency
The United States Constitution of 1787 addressed the absence of an executive branch in the previous governing document, the Articles of Confederation, by establishing an executive branch with the President at its head. The Articles of Confederation, which served as the United States' first constitution, had created a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments.
The Articles of Confederation had provided for a weak executive branch, with no national power of taxation and voting by states. This led to a lack of funds and military power to address internal rebellions. The Constitution of 1787 established a federal system of government, creating a separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This ensured that power would not be concentrated in a single branch.
The legislative branch, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate, is responsible for making laws. The executive branch, headed by the President, enforces these laws, while the judicial branch, including the Supreme Court and other federal courts, interprets them. This system of checks and balances prevents one branch from becoming too powerful.
Now, onto the topic of states being barred from creating their own currency. The Constitution gave the federal government more power over money and taxes, including the control of interstate commerce. States were prohibited from coining money, emitting bills of credit, or making anything but gold and silver as legal tender for the nation's currency. This was a significant change from the Articles of Confederation, which had resulted in states and the Continental Congress producing paper currency that quickly lost its value due to counterfeiting and a lack of backing. The new system allowed Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states, and with Indian tribes. Additionally, the federal government gained the power to tax individuals, raising funds to support the military, pay Congress, and carry out other functions.
James Madison: Key Constitution Contributor
You may want to see also
The Constitution created a bicameral legislature
The United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, was a significant departure from the Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution, which had been in force since 1781. One of the most significant changes was the creation of the three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial.
The Articles of Confederation had established a weak central government, with most of the power left in the hands of the state governments. It had provided for a weak executive branch, with no national power of taxation, and no executive or judicial branch. The legislative body was a single body appointed by the state legislatures, with each state holding one vote.
The Constitution, on the other hand, established a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives, elected by popular vote, and the Senate, appointed by the state legislatures. This new Congress had more power, with each member granted a vote, rather than each state. The Constitution also gave Congress the power to regulate commerce and control interstate commerce, as well as barring states from creating their own currency.
The creation of the executive branch, with power vested in the President, addressed the issues of a lack of taxation power and the inability to address internal rebellions under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution also provided for a federal system of government, with a relationship between the national and state levels.
The three branches of government established by the Constitution were designed to be separate but equal, with each branch having its own authority, but also depending on the authority of the other branches for the government to function. This system of checks and balances prevents one branch from becoming too powerful.
TILA and Missing Booklets: Material Violations and Consumer Protection
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. This led to divisions among the states and an inability to address internal rebellions.
The Constitution established three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch includes the President and is responsible for enforcing the law.
The Constitution gave the federal government more power over money and taxes, allowing Congress to control interstate commerce and prohibiting states from creating their own currency.
The Articles of Confederation did not provide the central government with the power to tax, instead relying on requests to the states for money. The Constitution granted the federal government the power to tax individuals, increasing its power.
