Question

The first US Constitution didn't give the central government enough power to function. What were some of the weaknesses of the first US Constitution?

1) Lack of power to tax
2) No executive branch
3) No national court system
4) All of the above

Answer 1

The first US Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, had significant weaknesses such as the lack of power to tax, no executive branch, and no national court system. These issues led to the drafting of the United States Constitution to establish a stronger central government while balancing state rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first US Constitution, known as the Articles of Confederation, contained several weaknesses that hampered the effectiveness of the national government. Some of the notable weaknesses include:

• Lack of power to tax - The central government could not levy taxes to raise revenue and had to rely on voluntary contributions from states.
• No executive branch - Without an executive branch, there was no single leader or group responsible for enforcing laws or managing national affairs.
• No national court system - The absence of a judiciary made it difficult to resolve disputes between states or interpret the laws of the Confederation.

These limitations led to the creation of a new framework for governance, culminating in the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788 and 1789, respectively. The new Constitution sought to establish a stronger central government that could address these deficiencies while still preserving the rights of states.