What is the difference between articles of confederation and constitution?
The articles of confederation and constitution are the prominent documents manifested during the American Revolution.
The 13 states of the U.S accepted and signed the regulations of the articles of confederation. The constitution contains rules and principles that are followed by a democratic country.
The main difference between constitution and articles of confederation is that constitution is the rules that democratic countries and other legalized institutions develop to implement law and order whereas the articles of confederation are the rules that were accepted by the United States of American during American Revolution.
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Comparison Table (Articles of Confederation vs Constitution)
| Basic Terms | Articles of Confederation | Constitution |
| Meaning | These were laws that were accepted and signed by the 13 states in the U.S | It is a collection of rules and principles that govern the citizen of a country |
| Codification of Law | Follows unicameralism which is a single chamber in the parliament | Follows bicameralism which is the two chambers of the parliament |
| Voting Power | Each state has a single vote | Each legislative representative has a vote in the parliament |
| Distribution of Power | Power is distributed between many unions | Divide power between subordinate but the central authority has ultimate power |
| Bill of Rights | Citizens were not able to claim for a bill of rights | Citizens can claim the bill of rights is everybody is equal |
| Law of Enforcement | 9 out of 13 states should support the law to be enforced everywhere | Both houses of the parliament should support the law before it is amended |
What Are the Articles of Confederation?
These are the laws that were accepted and signed by the 13 states of the U.S for bond formation after the American Revolution
These are some of the earliest agreement for the central government since the central system was a weak one.
The articles of confederation is a written document meant for establishing ideas among the states for friendly bonding.
The head of the committee was John Dickson and presented the first draft on 12th July 1776. It results in a debate over the distribution of power.
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What Is a Constitution?
It is a collection of all rules and regulations that citizens of a country are supposed to obey. These rules and regulations are made by a group of people trusted by the government.
The constitution is a written document that is written based on the behaviour of an entity. The United Kingdom is the only country with both codified and uncodified constitution.
The constitution is the main backbone of a democratic country. It helps specify the power given to different departments.
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Main Difference between Articles of Confederation and Constitution
- Article of confederation follows a unicameral system whereas the constitution follows the bicameral system.
- Article of confederation require a single vote given by each state whereas the constitution requires a vote from each legislative member of the parliament
- Articles of confederation ensure all states have equal powers whereas the constitution ensures power is divided among different departments.
- Articles of confederation do not provide a bill of rights for citizens while the constitution provides a bill of rights for citizens
- The constitution is passed by both houses of the parliament whereas articles of confederation require only 9 out of 13 states to accept the law
Comparison Video
Conclusion
The articles of confederation were the earliest draft for the representation of the government in the United States of America. The purpose of the draft was meant to distribute power among states.
The constitution is the current document prepared by trusted officials from the government. It is a vital document for any democratic country. It provides rules and regulations that citizens need to follow.
The main difference between articles of confederation and constitution is that articles of confederation are the earliest draft that was used to represent the government in the U.S while the constitution is a document that contains a set of rules and regulations.
More Sources and References
- The US Constitution. Ivy Panda
- The Articles and the Constitution. US Constitution