The Governmental Concepts Embodied in the Articles of Confederation

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The Governmental Concepts Embodied in the Articles of Confederation

The Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation formed the United States of America’s first national compact. The first U.S. constitution (1781-1789), the Articles of Confederation, functioned as a bridge between the federal government formed in line with the U.S. constitution of 1787 and the initial government formed by Continental Congress during the Revolutionary times. The drafters of the articles established a confederation of sovereign states deliberately because the encounters of domineering British primary authority were clear in colonial minds. Despite the articles of Confederation being written in 1776 through 1977, Congress never adopted them until November 15, 1777. Notably, the states did not fully ratify the document until March 1781. This text highlights the governmental concepts embodied in the articles of Confederation.

Congress is one of the terms that are embodied in the Articles of Confederation. Congress refers to a bi-cameral legislature that is divided into two institutions: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Every state sends elected senators and representatives to Congress. At the time of drafting the Article of Confederation, on paper, Congress had the power to regulate war, post office and foreign affairs and control Indian affairs and appoint military officers (Knight, 2019). Congress had the power to borrow money, issue bills of credit, and decide the value of coins. Federalism is another term that comes out clearly in the articles of Confederation. Federalism refers to a system of government where two levels of government are in charge of the same territories. In general, an overarching national government oversees broad governance in a bigger territorial area, while states, cities, and smaller subdivisions tend to matters of local concern.

The United States Constitution is another governmental concept that is embodied in the articles of Confederation. The constitution is a fundamental law of the federal government that sets the three main branches of the federal government and outlines their jurisdiction. The constitution is the oldest national constitution to be currently in use and it has become the landmark legal document that exist in the Western World. The U.S constitution established the fundamental laws, established America’s national government, and guaranteed specific basic rights for American citizens. Unicameral is another article that is embodied in the articles of Confederation. The term refers to a legislature that consists of only one house. It is a legislative body consisting of a single legislative chamber. Currently, only one unicameral legislature in the United States: Nebraska. Nebraska also has the smallest legislative branch in the United States, that consists of only 49 senators. The term declaration of independence is also embodied in the articles of Confederation. The Declaration of Independence is a document approved by the Continental Congress in July 1776 which announced the parting of 13 British Colonies in America from the Great Britain (Krane & Leach, 2018). This explains why on July 2, the Congress unanimously with votes from 12 colonies, resolved that the colonies had the right to be free and Independent states. July 2 was the day when the final division became officially voted, but July 4th was the day when the Declaration of Independence became fully adopted. This explains why Americans across the United States have always celebrated Independence Day on the Fourth of July. Independence Day remains to be the greatest national holiday in the United States.

References

Knight, J. T. (2019). Splitting Sovereignty: The Legislative Power and the Constitution’s Federation of Independent States. Geo. JL & Pub. Pol’y, 17, 683.

Krane, D., & Leach, R. H. (2018). Federalism and intergovernmental relations: theories, ideas, and concepts. In Handbook of public administration (pp. 481-500). Routledge.