1. The Articles of Confederation
Created by Continental Congress in 1777
Approved by the 13 states in 1781
Failed by 1787
Replaced by the Constitution in 1789

2. Structure of the Government
Unicameral legislature (one house)
Each state decides for itself how many delegates to send to Congress but each state only gets one vote.
No executive or judicial branches – state governments are responsible for judging and enforcing Federal laws.

3. Structure of Government (2)
To pass a law it takes 9/13 votes.
To amend the Articles of Confederation it takes 13/13 votes.
Congress cannot tax the people directly. Instead it sets a budget that is voted on by Congress and if approved states are supposed to tax the people to provide for the budgeted amount.

4. Structure of the government (3)
Congress can print money but so can each state.
Congress can negotiate with foreign countries but so can each state.
Congress cannot regulate foreign or domestic trade.

5. The Articles of Confederation
What would have to happen in order for this government to work?
Successes –
Was the national government during the war of Independence
Resolved the Land disputes
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance of 1787

6. The four major weaknesses
Congress had no power to directly tax the people.
What problems resulted from this?

7. The four major weaknesses
Congress lacked the power to regulate trade or create a national currency. States could pass taxes on trade within the country and Congress could do nothing to stop it.
What problems would this cause for the economy?

8. The four major weaknesses
Congress had no power to make the States obey the Articles of Confederation
What problems would occur because of this? If a state didn’t vote for a law would it be enforced in that state?

9. The four major weaknesses
Amendments required ratification by all 13 state legislatures
Would it be likely that the Articles could be improved by amendment?

10. Who really had the power in this system?
State governments maintained there own sovereignty – they could choose whether or not to obey laws passed by Congress. They could choose whether or not to tax their citizens to provide money for the National government.

11. The Solution

12. The Solution
The Constitution
OF THE
U. S. A.

13. The Problems Congress had no power to tax
Congress lacked the power to regulate trade
Congress had no power to make the States obey the Articles of Confederation
Amendments required ratification by all 13 state legislatures

14. The Solution Congress had no power to tax Art. I Sec. 8 clause 1
The problem
Art. I Sec. 8 clause 1
Congress had no power to tax
In this clause, congress is given the power to order the payment of taxes and to provide for the collection of various kinds of taxes in order to finance the operations of the government. It also states that all federal taxes must be the same rate throughout the country.

15. The Solution Congress lacked the power to regulate trade
The Problem
Art. I Sec. 8 clause 3
Congress lacked the power to regulate trade
This clause, known as the Commerce Clause, gives congress the power to regulate both foreign trade and interstate trade.

16. The Solution
The problem
Art. VI Sec. 2
Congress had no power to make the States obey the Articles of Confederation
This section sets out the Supremacy Clause, a specific declaration of the supremacy of federal law over any and all forms of State law. No State, including its local governments, may make or enforce any law that conflicts with any provision in the Constitution, an act of Congress, a treaty, or an order, rule, or regulation properly issued by the President or his subordinates in the executive branch.

17. The Solution Art. I Sec. 8 Congress had no power to tax
Congress lacked the power to regulate trade
Congress had no power to make the States obey the Articles of Confederation
Amendments required ratification by all 13 state legislatures

18. The Solution Congress had no power to tax Art. I Sec. 8
Congress lacked the power to regulate trade
Congress had no power to make the States obey the Articles of Confederation
Amendments required ratification by all 13 state legislatures
Art. I Sec. 8
Art. VI Sec. 2

19. The Solution Congress had no power to tax Art. I Sec. 8
Congress lacked the power to regulate trade
Congress had no power to make the States obey the Articles of Confederation
Amendments required ratification by all 13 state legislatures
Art. I Sec. 8
Art. VI Sec. 2

20. The Solution
Amendments required ratification by all 13 state legislatures
This section provides the methods by which formal changes can be made in the Constitution. An amendment may be proposed in one of two ways: by a 2/3 vote in each house of congress, or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the State legislatures. Once proposed, an amendment may be ratified in one of two ways: by 3/4 of the State legislatures, or by 3/4 of the States in convention. Congress determines the method by which a proposed amendment may be ratified.
The problem
Art. V

21. Article V
This section provides the methods by which formal changes can be made in the Constitution. An amendment may be proposed in one of two ways: by a 2/3 vote in each house of congress, or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the State legislatures. Once proposed, an amendment may be ratified in one of two ways: by 3/4 of the State legislatures, or by 3/4 of the States in convention. Congress determines the method by which a proposed amendment may be ratified.