Deficiencies in the Articles of Confederation
- No separate executive branch to carry out the laws of Congress.
- No national judiciary to handle offenses against the central government’s laws or to settle disputes between states.
- Congress did not have the power to levy taxes.
- Congress could not regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
- The states as well as Congress had the power to coin money.
- Congress could not support an army or navy and was dependent on state militias.
- Nine states had to approve every law.
- Amendment of the Articles required unanimous consent.
| The Bill of Rights | |
| First Amendment | Freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceable assembly, and petition |
| Second Amendment | The right to keep and bear arms |
| Third Amendment | Prohibits quartering of troops in citizens’ homes |
| Fourth Amendment | Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures |
| Fifth Amendment | Rules against taking of life, liberty, or property without due process of law Protection against self-incrimination |
| Sixth Amendment | A person accused of a crime has a right to a defense lawyer, speedy and public trial, the right to hear charges, call witnesses, and be present when witnesses speak in court |
| Seventh Amendment | The right to trial by jury |
| Eighth Amendment | Protection against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishments |
| Ninth Amendment | The rights enumerated in the Constitution are not a person’s only rights |
| Tenth Amendment | Powers not delegated to the U.S. nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or to the people |
| Checks and Balances | |
| Executive Branch | can veto laws |
| can call special sessions of Congress | |
| controls enforcement of laws | |
| nominates judges | |
| can pardon people convicted of federal crimes | |
| Legislative Branch | can impeach President and other high officials |
| Senate approves Presidential appointments | |
| Senate approves treaties | |
| can override presidential vetoes | |
| exercises power of the purse | |
| Judicial Branch | can declare laws or presidential actions unconstitutional |
| lifetime appointments | |
by putting the bill of rights in there are you suggesting this was a deficiency of the AoC. We didn’t have a rights to bear arms article in the AoC? That’s news to me.