Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the United States, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, is often referred to as the supreme law of the land. It is a living document that can be amended and establishes the system of the Federal Government. The AOC, on the other hand, is a reference to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an American politician and activist who has served as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First constitution of the new nation | Articles of Confederation |
| Second constitution of the new nation | Constitution |
| Date of adoption | Articles of Confederation: November 15, 1777 |
| Constitution: September 1786 | |
| Constitution: March 4, 1789 | |
| Sovereignty | Articles of Confederation: States |
| Constitution: Federal government | |
| Branches of government | Articles of Confederation: One (Congress) |
| Constitution: Three (executive, legislative, judicial) | |
| Members of Congress term lengths | Articles of Confederation: One year |
| Constitution: Two years (Representatives), six years (Senators) | |
| Regulation of trade | Articles of Confederation: No |
| Constitution: Yes | |
| Collection of taxes | Articles of Confederation: No |
| Constitution: Yes | |
| Drafting of the document | Articles of Confederation: Committee of 13 with one representative from each colony |
| Constitution: Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no executive or judicial branch, and the legislative body was a single body appointed by the state legislatures. Members of Congress served one-year terms with term limits. Each state was granted a singular vote. The Articles also provided for a blanket acceptance of the Province of Quebec (referred to as "Canada" in the Articles) into the United States if it chose to do so. However, no new states were admitted to the Union under the Articles.
In May 1787, delegates from several states met in Philadelphia to address the shortcomings of the Articles. They quickly agreed that the defects in the frame of government could not be remedied by altering the Articles and, therefore, authored a new constitution. This new constitution provided for a much stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. It also created a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives, elected by popular vote, and the Senate, appointed by the state legislature. Each member of the new Congress was granted a vote. The Constitution also gave the federal government more power over money and taxes, allowing it to control interstate commerce and prohibit states from creating their own currency.
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The Constitution
The right to declare war is given to the legislative body under the Constitution, and the document also includes the Bill of Rights, which was added to preserve individual freedom and limit the power of the government.
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The Bill of Rights
The Constitution and the AOC (Articles of Confederation) are the two governing documents of America. The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the new nation, adopted on November 15, 1777, by the Continental Congress. The Articles created a government in which the colonies retained most of the power, leaving the central government weak and ineffective.
The Constitution, on the other hand, was created to be a living document that could be amended to meet the needs of a growing and changing nation. It was ratified in 1787 and provided for a much stronger federal government by establishing three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This separation of powers ensured that power would not be concentrated in one particular branch.
The Constitution also gave the federal government more power over money and taxes, allowing it to control interstate commerce and collect taxes from individuals. It established a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives, elected by popular vote, and the Senate, appointed by the state legislature.
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Separation of Powers
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are two of America's governing documents. The former was approved by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and was the first constitution of the new nation. The latter was ratified in 1787 and replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.
One of the most significant differences between the two documents is the separation of powers. The Constitution created three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This separation of powers ensured that power would not be concentrated in one particular branch. Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no executive or judicial branch, and the legislative body was a single body appointed by the state legislatures. The Constitution, on the other hand, created a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives, elected by popular vote, and the Senate, appointed by the state legislature.
The separation of powers under the Constitution allowed for a stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. It also allowed for the regulation of trade, which was not allowed under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution gave Congress the power to control interstate commerce and prohibited states from creating their own coined money. It also granted the federal government the power to tax individuals and draft soldiers, which were not allowed under the Articles of Confederation.
The separation of powers under the Constitution also set up a republic form of government, a representative government accountable to the people. The legislature makes the laws, the executive enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets them. This separation of powers ensured that the government preserved freedom while still being strong enough to address the needs of a growing and changing nation.
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Ratification
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are two of America's governing documents. The former was ratified in 1781 and was the first constitution of the new nation. The latter was ratified in 1787, and the government under the Articles was replaced with the federal government under the Constitution on March 4, 1789.
The Articles of Confederation created a government in which the colonies, now states, retained most of the power, leaving the central government weak. The Articles provided for a blanket acceptance of the Province of Quebec (referred to as "Canada" in the Articles) into the United States if it chose to do so. It did not, and the subsequent Constitution carried no such special provision of admission. The Articles also did not allow for the regulation of trade, and the government could not collect taxes or draft soldiers.
The Constitution, on the other hand, created a strong national government with three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. This separation of powers ensured that power would not be concentrated in one particular branch. The Constitution also gave the federal government more power over money and taxes, allowing it to control interstate commerce and grant the federal government the power to tax individuals.
The process of ratifying the Constitution involved significant ratification debates in each state and across the nation. Some states agreed to ratify the Constitution only if a Bill of Rights was added to it. James Madison, a member of the first Congress, drew up proposed amendments to the Constitution, and ten of these amendments were passed by Congress and ratified by the states, becoming known as the Bill of Rights.
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Frequently asked questions
AOC is the acronym for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the US Congress representing New York's 14th congressional district.
The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, adopted on November 15, 1777. The Articles created a government in which the states retained most of the power, leaving the central government weak.
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, ratified and enacted in 1787. It established a stronger federal government with three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial.
The Articles of Confederation provided for a weak central government with limited powers, while the Constitution established a stronger federal government with three branches and increased powers over money, taxation, and trade. The Articles had a single legislative body appointed by the states, while the Constitution created a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives elected by popular vote and the Senate appointed by state legislatures.
The US Constitution was created to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which were seen as ineffective and unable to address internal rebellions or external threats. The Constitution was designed as a living document that could be amended to meet the needs of a growing and changing nation.
