Describe in what ways did the constitution strengthen the central government?

Answer 1

It's ALL OPINIONATED. Argument A - Constitution is BAD The Constitution actually creates a VERY weak central government. There are very many ways to point this out. For instance, The Constitution is only 4 pages long. Most countries' governing documents are 10 times that size. Also, most of the Constitution is a list of what the government can do (The Second Article is a huge list of powers granted to Congress), but it then says that all rights not EXPLICITLY granted to the federal government are reserved to the people and the States. So the Constitution is a very limiting document, because the federal government cannot act outside of it; they can only do things that are expressly permitted.

The Articles of Confederation, the governing document during the Revolution and before the Constitution (it only lasted about 10 years) had an extremely weak federal government. In the AoC, the central government couldn't print their own currency, and had no power to collect taxes from the states, only to ask nicely for them. This, of course, was barely a government at all, so the Founders decided on the Constitution, which is still, in comparison to most of today's governments, a very weak central government. ========== Argument B - The Constitution is GOOD ACTUALLY it's a very STONG GOVERNMENT because a) the constitution doesn't NEED to be long to be to-the-point-spelling-out-the-rights-of-the-country. Perhaps it only spells out exactly what it needs to. b) The government has limited power so that nobosy takes over and creates TYRANNY. Remember, this was back just after the Americans drove the British out for not being vcery nice. (Not that they dealt with the British very well... I truly can't take sides in this matter) AFter the Intolerable Acts, the Americans were afraid that another cruel leader would come along... c) we have the ability to CHANGE the Constitution! These are amendments! 27 have already been passed, and although it isn't very easy to make amendments, THAT is the point - the entirity of state legistlatures have to agree (actually no- only 3/4, but still...) to change it.

Answer 2

strengthened by listing all their natural rights and making an equal government.

Answer 3

The federal government could tax, regulate trade, control the currency, raise an army, declare war, and pass laws. :)

Answer 4

By sucken ween