Please help, U.S government Choose one of the following principles: rule of law, checks and balances, separation of powers, repu
blicanism, democracy, or federalism. Discuss whether you think the Articles of Confederation or the Constitution was a better reflection of that principle and explain your answer in a paragraph..
The US Constitution includes a better reflection of the rule of law in comparison to the Articles of Confederation. The rule of law is an idea that all individuals in a society, regardless of position/occupation, are treated equally under the law. The rule of law also indicates that individuals will follow the laws established in order to create an organized society.
The US Constitution helps to establish the rule of law thanks by discussing the specific rights that citizens possess. Along with this, it also clearly outlines what responsibilities and power the different branches of government possess. This holds individuals accountable for their actions, as failure to follow the Constitution can result in legal consequences.
On the other hand, the Articles of Confederation had very little rule of law. State governments were not forced to follow federal laws or even show up to Congressional meetings. This meant that states had the power to do whatever they wanted. This resulted in the federal government being unable to effectively shut down conflicts like Shay's Rebellion.
The U.S. Constitution was a better reflection of the principles of checks and balances and separation of powers. Unlike the Articles the Constitution explicitly created a federal government divided between 3 branches which each had the power to check and balance the behavior of the other through constitutionally granted powers. This was different from the Articles of Confederation which was essentially just a Congress. Also the powers in the constitution were separated between the three branches and each branch was given specific powers that could be checked by other branches through the process of governing.
