Advantages Of The Articles Of Confederation

Words: 741
Pages: 3

Although the American colonies no longer exist, many of the early governmental policies developed at that time are still in use today. Before the struggle for American independence had been concluded, the members of the Second Continental Congress had been attempting to establish a central government. One of the first documents that helped shape and develop our nation was the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation had many weaknesses; however, there were some advantages which benefited our nation. The Articles of Confederation organized a union of the 13 states that had declared independence from Great Britain. Before the Articles of Confederation was taken over by the Constitution of the United States of America, it set up a national legislature that could raise an army and a Navy, negotiate treaties and declare war, borrow and coin money, run a postal system, and handle National Americans. Each state could send two delegates to Congress; however, they had only one vote. Another policy developed in colonial times that helped shape our nation to this day is the three branches of government. The idea was first pioneered by the English man John Locke, but was proposed by a Virginia delegate named Edmund Randolph. He …show more content…
The Founding Fathers made sure that no one branch of government would get more than its share of power under the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. With the system established by the Constitutional Convention the President can check Congress by vetting legislation and the Supreme Court can check Congress by declaring laws unconstitutional. On the other hand, Congress can check both the President and the members of the Court through its power to impeach governmental officials for "bribery, treason, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." Checks and balances have been set up inside the legislative government