Which of the following was one way the constitution attempted to reconcile weakness of the articles of confederation
The United States Constitution was drafted to address the various weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States and had established a loose confederation of sovereign states with a very weak central government. The Constitution introduced several provisions to create a stronger federal structure while still respecting the sovereignty of individual states. Some of these provisions include:
1. Establishment of a Stronger Executive Branch: The Constitution created the position of the President, who would serve as the head of the executive branch, providing a clear, singular leader where the Articles had none.
2. Creation of a Federal Judiciary: The Constitution established the Supreme Court and allowed Congress to create lower federal courts, whereas the Articles of Confederation lacked a national judiciary.
3. Taxation Powers: Under the Articles, the federal government could not levy taxes directly on individuals, forcing it to rely on requisitions from states, which were often ignored. The Constitution gave the federal government the power to raise revenue through taxes, duties, and tariffs.
4. Federal Regulation of Commerce: The Constitution gave Congress the power to regulate interstate and international commerce, which the Articles did not, allowing for a more integrated and coherent economic policy.
5. A Stronger Legislative Branch with Bicameral Structure: The Framers created a bicameral Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with different modes of representation and powers, which could enact laws and had powers the uni-cameral legislature under the Articles did not have, like regulating commerce and raising revenue.
6. Amending the Constitution: The process for amending the Constitution was made more practical under the new framework, although still requiring significant consensus. The Articles required unanimous consent for amendments, an almost impossible hurdle that was addressed by the new Constitution's requirement of a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
7. Supremacy Clause: The Constitution established itself and federal laws as the "supreme Law of the Land," helping to harmonize laws across the country and reducing conflicts between state and federal legislation that were common under the Articles.
These measures and others were designed to create a balance between a government strong enough to function effectively and unite the nation, while preserving the liberties of the individual states and their citizens.