Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, contained 13 articles, or sets of binding agreements on specific topics. Overall, the Articles of Confederation discussed the nature of the association of states, limits on the respective powers of the states and confederation government, the structure of the confederation government, and methods of changing, or amending, the agreement. Articles of Confederation did not provide the United States of America with an effective government. The Articles of Confederation lacked an executive branch, a judiciary, and a permanent home, or seat of government. Also, delegate absenteeism was widespread, and because of Articles of Confederation, Congress had difficulty raising money to pay off war debts and pay for its expenses.The Article of Confederation lacked an executive branch, a judiciary, and a permanent home, or seat of government. The rise of government departments was an important step in the development of an executive branch. One government department was created even before the Confederation, which was the Post Office, directed by a postmaster general. By 1782, the Post office had twenty-six riders carrying mail. Other departments came later. At first, the Congress
Confederation Secretary Charles Thomson kept detailed attendance records. The states neither wanted nor needed the Confederation government. National government printed more and more paper, called "Continentals" to meet its bill. Absenteeism severely affected the government's ability to function properly. The fact that Articles of Confederation was created, it had failed to supply the Congress with a permanent home, a seat of government or capital. Like the other reform articles, this measure did not pass. So Congress decided to straighten out the Confederation, by Article 20, which required states to elect their delegates at a certain time and send them to Congress by the first of November, the beginning of the federal year. For example, from November 1784 to July 1785, Congress met for a total 169 days, but for 42 days, a quorum (the number of delegates needed to conduct business) was not obtained. If one of the delegates became ill and failed to attend the meetings, the remaining delegate could not cast the state's vote. Any delegates who left without permission would be barred from holding federal office. Finally, Congress voted to send the states monthly reports on absenteeism, but this did not help. Delegates were reluctant to leave their business or lands for long periods of time, to be parted from their loved ones, and to spend so much time indoors in a distant city or town on thankless, tedious tasks.
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