The United States has operated under two constitutions
The first, the Articles of Confederation, was in effect from March 1, 1781, when Maryland
ratified it. The second, the Constitution, replaced the Articles when it was ratified by New Hampshire
on June 21, 1788. The two documents have much in common. They were established by the same people, sometimes literally the same exact people
or mostly just in terms of contemporaries. But they differ more than they do resemble each other, when one looks at the details
Comparing them can give us insight into what the framers found important in 1781, and what
they changed their minds on by 1788. The following is a comparison, detailing the similarities and differences between the Constitution
and the Articles. Full Name of the Nation Articles, The United States of America
Constitution, not specified, but referred to in the preamble as The United States of
America Legislature Article, Unicameral, called Congress Constitution, bicameral, called Congress
divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate Members of Congress Articles, between two and seven members per
state Constitution, two senators per state, representatives apportioned according to population of each state
Voting in Congress Articles, one vote per state Constitution, one vote per representative or senator
Appointment of Members Articles, all appointed by state legislatures, in the manner each legislature directed Constitution, representatives elected by popular
vote, senators appointed by state legislatures Term of Legislative Office Articles, one year Constitution, two years for representatives
six for senators Term limit for legislative office Articles, no more than three out of every six years
Constitution, none Congressional Pay Articles, paid by states Constitution, paid by the federal government
when Congress is not in session Articles, a committee of states have the
full powers of Congress Constitution, the president can call for Congress to assemble Chair of Legislature
Article, President of Congress Constitution, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Vice President is President of the Senate Executive
Article, none Constitution, President Federal Judiciary Article, Maritime Judiciary established Constitution, Federal Judiciary established, including the Supreme Court
Adjudicator of disputes between states Article, Congress Constitution, Supreme Court, new states Articles, admitted upon agreement of nine
states Special exemption provided for Canada Constitution, admitted upon agreement of Congress
Amendment Articles, when agreed upon by all states Constitution, when agreed upon by three-fourths of all states
Navy Articles, Congress authorized to build a navy States authorized to equip warships to counter
piracy Constitution, Congress authorized to build a navy States not allowed to keep ships of war
Army Articles, Congress to decide on size of force and to requisition troops from each state according to population
Constitution, Congress authorized to raise and support armies Powers to coin money Articles, United States and the States
Constitution, United States only Ex post facto laws Articles, not forbidden Constitution, forbidden of both the states
and the Congress Bills of the chamber Articles, not forbidden Constitution, forbidden of both the states
and the Congress Taxes Articles, apportioned by Congress, collected by the states
Constitution, laid and collected by Congress Ratification Articles, unanimous consent required Constitution, consent of nine states required