one vote per state, no executive or judicial branches, and no national courts were all weaknesses of what government?
The Continental Congress of the Amrerican States, before the Constitution was adopted, 1776-1789
The weaknesses described (one vote per state, no executive or judicial branches, and no national courts) were part of the government structure of the Continental Congress of the American States, which existed from 1776 to 1789. This government system, known as the Articles of Confederation, had certain flaws that were addressed and rectified later with the adoption of the United States Constitution.
To understand these weaknesses, it is helpful to have a brief overview of the Articles of Confederation. The Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation as the first attempt at a unified national government after declaring independence from Britain in 1776.
Under the Articles of Confederation, each state had only one vote in Congress, regardless of its population or size. This equal representation meant that smaller states had just as much power as larger states, which often led to difficulties in decision-making and representation.
The lack of executive branch was another weakness. The Articles did not establish a central governing authority or executive branch to enforce and execute laws passed by Congress. Consequently, there was no single leader or entity responsible for implementing and administering the nation's laws, policies, or decisions.
Furthermore, the Articles of Confederation did not provide for a separate judicial branch or a national court system. Disputes or conflicts between states or individuals had no clear mechanism for resolution at the national level. This absence of national courts left the interpretation and enforcement of laws primarily in the hands of state courts, which could sometimes lead to inconsistent outcomes and potential conflicts between state and federal law.
These weaknesses ultimately demonstrated the need for a revised and stronger national government. The shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, along with other concerns about national unity and governance, led to the drafting and adoption of the United States Constitution in 1787, which established a more robust and balanced system of government with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches.