What was the structure of the legislative body created by the Articles of Confederation?
1 Answer
Oct 15, 2017
A unicameral congress with equal votes given to each state.
Explanation:
Major provisions of the Articles of Confederation:
- One branch of government: A unicameral Congress.
- In Congress, each state had one vote = equal representation.
Powers given to the government by the Articles:
- Make war and peace
- Coin money
- Borrow money
- Raise an army and navy
- Make treaties
- Establish a postal service
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:
- No executive and judicial branches of government
- Equal representation: unfair to large states (undemocratic)
- To pass laws required approval of 9 states out of 13 (difficult to achieve, not much could get done)
- Missing powers (e.g. power to tax and regulate interstate commerce)
- No method to enforce laws (no standing army, state governments unwilling to reduce their individual sovereignty)
