It seems you are describing features of the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781. Here’s a brief overview of the key points you mentioned:
-
Unanimous Consent for Amendments: Under the Articles of Confederation, any amendments to the Articles required the unanimous consent of all 13 states. This made it very difficult to make any changes or improvements to the governing document.
-
Regulated Sale of Government-Owned Land: The Articles provided a framework for the sale and distribution of government-owned land, particularly for settling the western territories. This included the Land Ordinances, which established procedures for surveying and selling land to settlers.
-
National Government Structure: The Articles established a national government that consisted of a single legislative body (Congress) where each state had one vote, regardless of its size or population. This system favored smaller states and contributed to debates over representation in government.
These features reflected the founders' desire for a decentralized government that prioritized state sovereignty but ultimately led to challenges in governance, prompting the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the creation of the U.S. Constitution.