Constitutional Foundations of the United States

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Constitutional Foundations of the United States
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Democratization Highlights of the U.S.
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PROBLEMS UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
(1781-1789)

• ? Congress could not regulate interstate commerce
• ? States had the power to issue their own
  currencies
• Congress could not draft citizens into the
  military service during wartime
• ? Congress could not directly tax citizens
• Limited sources of revenue
• Few guarantees against violent civil unrest
• ? Unanimous consent of the states required for
  Amendments to the Articles of Confederation
• ? Lack of an independent executive branch
• Lack of a federal court system

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How to Amend the U.S. Constitution?
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