Major Issues of the Constitution

Reference on the Central Government: Articles of Confederation Compared to the Constitution

The left column shows common things that governments do. The two variations in the history of our nation are:

· The central government, such as a government that must deal with other nations

· State govenments, such as the governments of Massachusetts or Virginia

The two columns on the right show whether the responsibility is assigned to the central government (not to individual states)

· With the Articles of Confederation

· With the Constitution.

If you compare carefully, you can see why the Articles of Confederation will fail to protect the citizens.

Governmental Responsibilities		Articles of Confederation and Its Failures		Constitution
Responsible to conduct foreign affairs		Yes – Congress. Failure: Jay-Gardoqui Treaty		Yes – Executive with Congressional approval
	Responsible to declare war and peace		Yes – Congress		Yes – Congress
	Able to coin money		Yes		Yes – Congress
	Able to levy taxes		No Failure: impost duties amendment		Yes – Congress
	Able to raise troops		No		Yes – Congress
	Able to regulate commerce		No Failure: No commercial treaty with Britain		Yes – Congress
	Method to change the system		All 13 state legislatures must agree.		Amendment process – 2/3 to propose – Congress or by convention 3/4 to ratify – conventions or state legislatures
	Method to write laws		9 votes (1 vote per state)		Majority of House and Senate