The Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the United States, had several significant weaknesses that hindered the effectiveness of the national government. Here are three key weaknesses, along with explanations of how the Constitution addressed them:
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Lack of a Strong Central Government:
- Weakness: The Articles created a weak central government with limited powers. It lacked the authority to impose taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws. This made it difficult for the government to raise revenue or address issues that required national coordination.
- Constitutional Solution: The Constitution established a stronger federal government with the power to levy taxes (Article I, Section 8). It created the authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, which helped to foster economic stability and growth. The ability to enforce laws was also established, giving the executive branch the necessary authority for implementation.
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No Executive Branch:
- Weakness: Under the Articles, there was no separate executive branch to enforce laws or implement policies. The government relied on a Congress that had no means to execute its decisions, leading to inefficiency and inaction.
- Constitutional Solution: The Constitution introduced a clear separation of powers among three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The establishment of the presidency provided a strong executive who could enforce laws and carry out the governance of the country, thus ensuring that the laws passed by Congress could be implemented effectively.
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Difficulties in Passing Legislation:
- Weakness: The Articles required a supermajority (nine out of thirteen states) to pass legislation, making it exceedingly difficult to enact laws. Additionally, amendments to the Articles required unanimous consent from all states, which is nearly impossible to achieve.
- Constitutional Solution: The Constitution simplified the legislative process by allowing a simple majority in both houses of Congress to pass laws. Furthermore, amendments to the Constitution can be proposed by a two-thirds majority in both houses or by a national convention and ratified by three-fourths of the states, making it more feasible to amend the document while still ensuring sufficient consensus.
In summary, while the Articles of Confederation aimed to preserve state sovereignty, they created a government that was too weak to address national concerns effectively. The Constitution rectified these weaknesses by establishing a stronger federal framework capable of taxation, law enforcement, and more efficient legislative processes.
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