Chart Rubrics
COMPARISON OF ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION TO THE
CONSTITUTION
Articles of Confederation
Preamble
Powers of Congress
Process for Enacting Law
Organization of Congress
Executive Powers
Judicial powers
Process of Amendment
Each state retains its
sovereignty, freedom, and
independence, and every
power, jurisdiction, and
right, which is not by this
Confederation expressly
delegated to the United
States, in Congress
assembled… The said States
hereby severally enter into a
firm league of friendship
1) Declare war
2) Make treaties
3) Establish a postal
system
4) Coin and borrow
money
5) Regulate Indian
Affairs
Constitution
We the people (5 pts)
Powers granted to
Congress in Article I,
Section 8, but Article I,
Section 10 denies these
powers to the states.
National government can
act directly on the people
(10 pts)
Each state casts one vote,
A majority vote for
regardless of population.
legislation in both houses
Nine out of thirteen states
with super majorities
must approve most laws.
required for treaties and
Constitutional
Amendments (5 pts)
Unicameral
Bicameral
No separate executive branch Separation of powers
provided.
(5 pts)
None provided
Separate court system
Unanimous approval
Article 5 (explained)
(15 pts)
POLITICAL CHECKS AND BALANCES
President
Congress
1) House of
Representatives
Electors
Electoral College
People
by District)
Length of Term
4 years, limited to
two terms up to 10
years
Constituency
The whole nation
2 years
Part of a state
Based on population
(5 pts)
(5 pts)
2) Senate
State Legislatures
(directly elected
since 1913)
6 years
The whole state, one
per state regardless
of the population
(5 pts)
Judges
President Appoints
Senate Approves
Life
National system
(5 pts)
STRUCTURAL CHECKS AND BALANCES
President on Congress
President may veto bills, recommend legislation, call a
special session, go directly to the people
(4 pts)
President on the Courts
President appoints judges
(1 pt)
Congress on the President
Makes laws, creates agencies, appropriates funds, may
override the veto with a 2/3rd majority, may impeach,
Senate approves treaties and appointments, can initiate the
amendment process (7 pts)
Congress on the Courts
Creates lower courts, may impeach judges, Senate
approves appointments of judges (3 pts)
Courts on the President
Judges are appointed for life, can declare executive actions
unconstitutional (2 pts)
Courts on the Congresss
Courts can declare Congressional laws unconstitutional
(1 pt)