FREE ESSAY ON CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

The constitution of the United States was written to correct weaknesses in the Articles of
Confederation. The articles were introduced in 1777 and this gave the power to individual
states. The problem of the Articles of Confederation was that it limited the power to
central government. This meant that the congress had no power to tax. The congress gave
all the authority to the states over and left it with no power over the nations economic
affairs.
The main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation are that it legislated for states
but not for individuals. Congress had no power to tax or regulate trade. It lacked power
to control commerce. And it was too difficult to change any of the articles. Then the
Constitution was put into place 1787 to overthrow the Articles of Confederation. The
Constitution put far more powers into Congress. It gave the congress power to tax, borrow
coin money, regulate commerce and raise armed forces that were needed. Most of the power
came in the expense of the states, which were no longer allowed to pass tariffs or issue
money. The government got the right to declare state laws unconstitutional. But the
Constitution did not leave the central government too powerful. They put internal and
external restraints on the government. The Constitution divided the government into three
branches the executive, legislative and judicial. This was set so that no one part of the
government can have too much power. It was a system of checks and balances where one
branch can check on the other. The Constitution granted power on taxes and armed forces,
gave the power to states and government instead of just to the states. Changed from a
bicameral from a unicameral system. Originally every state had equal representation but
the bicameral system sets up two houses. The Senate and the House of Representatives. The
Senate gives representation to the states and the House of Representatives gives
membership that depends on population in interest to people. And to the amendment process
under the Articles of Confederation it was almost impossible to change anything. But it
was changed to a three-fourths vote by the states. Which makes the amendment process
easier. The Constitution establishes an office for the president and establishes a
Supreme Court.
There have been times were people have contested the Constitution and it has proven to be
successful. Amendment two says that we have the right to bear arms. And our individual
rights as people we are guaranteed it by the Constitution and it cannot be taken away
from us. In 1973 a court case Roe vs. Wade protected the women's right to have abortion.
There are many examples where people who oppose them have put the rights we are given to
the test. Our Constitution has withheld and that is why it has been so successful. The
Supreme Court has enforced the Constitution for over two hundred years. It guarantee's us
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It says that the government does not
control itself, that the people control the government. If government becomes destructive
to the rights that we are entitled to we as the people can alter or abolish it.