How was the U.S. Constitution different from the Articles of Confederation?
1. Structure of Government: The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government with most powers held by the individual states. The U.S. Constitution, on the contrary, created a stronger central government with three separate branches - legislative, executive, and judicial.
2. Legislative Powers: Under the Articles of Confederation, there was only a unicameral legislature called the Congress, with each state having one vote. The Constitution established a bicameral legislature, with the Senate providing equal representation for each state, and the House of Representatives assigning representation based on a state's population.
3. Executive Power: The Articles of Confederation did not have an executive branch that could enforce laws. The U.S. Constitution created a strong executive branch headed by a President, who would be responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.
4. Ratification: The Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent from all 13 states to amend the Articles. The Constitution, however, needed only the approval of nine out of thirteen states for ratification.
5. Taxation and Trade: The Articles of Confederation did not grant the central government the power to tax or regulate trade. The Constitution granted the federal government the authority to impose and collect taxes, as well as regulate interstate and foreign trade.
6. Amendments: The process for amending the Articles of Confederation was complex and required the unanimous consent of all states. The Constitution outlined a simpler and more flexible amendment process that involved the proposal by two-thirds of Congress or state legislatures, and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
7. Sovereignty: Under the Articles of Confederation, states were considered sovereign, with a loose association with the central government. In contrast, the U.S. Constitution established the idea of popular sovereignty, where the ultimate authority and power resided in the people.