Malcolm Rivera
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are two documents established by the United States with several similarities and differences. The Constitution, ratified in 1787, replaced the Articles of Confederation, which was ratified in 1781. Both documents were established by the same group of people, and they differ more than they resemble each other. This topic will explore the similarities and differences between the two documents and how they have influenced the United States' government and political system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official law | Both the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution were considered official law and were obeyed by all states |
| Federal roles in foreign countries | The federal roles in regards to foreign countries are similar in the two documents |
| Central government regulation | The central government regulated the value of money in both systems |
| Term limits | There are term limits for holding government offices in both systems |
| Number of members in Congress | The number of members in Congress is proportional to the population of each state |
| Voting in Congress | Each representative or senator gets one vote |
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What You'll Learn
Both were established by the same people
The United States Constitution and the Articles of Confederation (AOC) were established by the same people, both literally and in terms of contemporaries. The AOC was ratified on March 1, 1781, and was in effect until it was replaced by the Constitution on June 21, 1788.
The AOC was the first constitution of the United States. It was ratified when Maryland approved it, becoming the thirteenth state to do so. The Constitution was ratified by New Hampshire, becoming the ninth state to approve it. The two documents have much in common, but they differ more than they resemble each other when looking at the specifics.
The AOC established a unicameral legislature, with a single governing body, whereas the Constitution established a bicameral legislature, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The AOC also did not allow for the regulation of trade, and the government could not collect taxes or draft soldiers. In contrast, the Constitution allowed for these powers, giving Congress the right to levy taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce, and declare war.
The Constitution also created a system of checks and balances between the states and the national government, with three branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. This was done to prevent any one branch from dominating the others. The Constitution further declared the national legislature as the "supreme Law of the Land."
Despite their differences, both documents were created by the Framers with the intention of establishing a functioning system of government that would unify the country and protect individual liberties.
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Both are considered official law
The Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution were both considered official law and were obeyed by all states. They were both created by the legislature in Congress, and the central government regulated the value of money. Both documents also gave the central government the sole mandate to negotiate with other nations, receive and send ambassadors, conduct diplomatic missions, and sign international treaties.
The Articles of Confederation was in effect from March 1, 1781, when Maryland ratified it, until it was replaced by the Constitution on June 21, 1788. The two documents have much in common, but they differ more than they resemble each other when looking at the details.
The Articles of Confederation united 13 states: Connecticut, Massachusetts-bay, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. It also gave room for Canada to join the United States if it wanted to. The US Constitution adopted these 13 states but did not allow for Canada to join the Union.
The Articles of Confederation had an established unicameral government, a weak central government, and a strong independent state with one legislature. Conversely, the US Constitution created a bicameral legislature, allowing one vote for a single legislative representative according to the census population. It also established a strong central government with some powers reserved for states.
The US Constitution created a strong national government that preserved freedom. It did this by setting up a federal form of government, listing the powers of the national government, and reserving all other powers to the states. It also separated the powers of the national government by dividing it into three branches: the legislature, which makes the laws; the executive, which enforces them; and the judicial branch, which interprets them.
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Both have term limits for office
The US Constitution and the Articles of Confederation, both created by the legislature in Congress, share similarities and differences in their approach to term limits for office.
The Constitution outlines that representatives serve in legislative offices for two years, while senators hold office for six years. It establishes a bicameral legislature, allowing one vote for a single legislative representative according to the census population. This system creates a balance between the three branches of government and ensures a strong central government while reserving some powers for the states.
In contrast, the Articles of Confederation had a unicameral government, with a weak central government and strong independent states. Each state legislature appointed members to Congress, and these representatives served for one year with a term limit of no more than three out of every six years.
While the Constitution provides for a two-year term for representatives and a six-year term for senators, it does not specify an overall term limit for these offices. However, it is important to note that the absence of a term limit in the Constitution does not imply unlimited consecutive terms. The expectation is that representatives and senators will be accountable to the people and subject to reelection or replacement through democratic processes.
The Articles of Confederation, on the other hand, explicitly limited representatives to serving no more than three out of every six years, ensuring frequent rotation and preventing prolonged consecutive terms. This difference in approaches to term limits reflects the varying degrees of centralisation and state independence envisioned by the two documents.
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Both give central government control over foreign affairs
The US Constitution and the Articles of Confederation (AOC) are similar in that they both give central government control over foreign affairs. The Constitution strengthened national authority and gave Congress the right to levy taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce, declare war, and foreign policy. The Constitution also gave the President the job of enforcing the law and commanding the military.
The Articles of Confederation were in effect from 1781 until 1788 when they were replaced by the Constitution. The two documents have much in common, including the people who established them. However, they differ more than they resemble each other when looking at the details.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government could not collect taxes or draft soldiers. The Constitution allowed for both of these and also allowed for the regulation of trade. The Constitution created a strong national government, yet one that preserved freedom. It did this by setting up a federal form of government, which listed the powers of the national government and reserved all other powers to the states.
The Constitution also separated the powers of the national government by dividing it into three branches, each with a separate function: the legislature, which makes the laws; the executive, which enforces them; and the judicial branch, which interprets them. This system of checks and balances was designed to prevent any branch of the national government from dominating the other two.
Despite these similarities, it is important to note that the Constitution made significant changes to the Articles of Confederation, creating a much more powerful national government.
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Both allow Congress to declare war
The United States has had two constitutions: The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. The former was ratified in 1781 and replaced by the latter in 1788. While the two documents differ in many ways, they also share some similarities. One of the similarities between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution is that they both allow Congress to declare war.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government could not collect taxes or draft soldiers. However, the Constitution changed this and allowed both. The Constitution gave Congress the right to levy taxes, borrow money, regulate commerce, declare war, and make foreign policy. It also established a two-house Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
The Constitution created a strong national government while preserving freedom. It did this by setting up a federal form of government, which listed the powers of the national government and reserved all other powers to the states. It also separated the powers of the national government by dividing it into three branches, each with a separate function: the legislature, which makes the laws; the executive, which enforces them; and the judicial branch, which interprets them.
The Constitution also established a system of checks and balances between the states and the national government to prevent any branch of the national government from dominating the other two. While the Constitution gave more powers to the national government, it left the majority of day-to-day affairs up to the states, such as education and law enforcement.
In conclusion, both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution allowed Congress to declare war. However, the Constitution granted Congress additional powers and established a stronger national government with a system of checks and balances to protect freedoms and prevent the abuse of power.
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Frequently asked questions
Both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution were established by the same group of people, sometimes quite literally the same individuals.
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution both outline the division of powers between the local and national governments.
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution both outline the establishment of a legislative branch, with the former referring to a "Committee of States" and the latter referring to a "Congress".
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution both outline the establishment of a judicial branch, with the former establishing a "maritime judiciary" and the latter establishing a "federal judiciary".
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution both outline the power to levy taxes, with the former delegating this power to the states and the latter granting it to Congress.
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