What are four (4) or more main differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?
Articles of Confederation: No executive branch
No judicial branch. Each state had its own court system.
Congress. Each state had one vote. The Congress elected a president to preside over Congress.
Nine (9) of the thirteen (13) states must vote in favor of it.
Had power of states only. Thus it created a federal government.
To change the Articles, every state had to agree.
No power to raise an army. Could
only ask states to send soldiers.
No power to tax. Could only ask
states for tax money.
No power to control trade
between the states or with other
nations.
None.
Constitution: President elected by electoral college. Has checks on legislative and judicial branches.
System of Federal Courts headed by U.S. Supreme Court. (Each state still had its own court system.)
Two houses of Congress:
Senate: each state has two (2) senators
House of Representatives:
Membership based on the population of the state.
A majority in each house must pass it and the president must sign it.
Had power over states and individuals. Thus it created both a federal and national government.
Two ways to change the
Constitution:
(1) Passed by both houses of
Congress and 2/3 of the state
legislatures.
(2) Constitutional Convention called
by 3/4 of state legislatures.
Power to raise an army.
Power to tax.
Power to control trade.
None in original document. The first
10 amendments to the Constitution
make up the Bill of Rights.