The Constitution of the United States: Adopted in 1789, the Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation and created a stronger central government.
Additional documents that were proposed to solve the problems of Congress include the following:
The Declaration of Independence: Adopted in 1776, the Declaration of Independence declared the thirteen American colonies' independence from Great Britain. It outlined the principles of individual liberty and limited government that would form the foundation of the United States government.
The Bill of Rights: Adopted in 1791, the Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It guarantees certain fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan: These were two proposals for a new federal government that were presented to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The Virginia Plan, which was largely based on the British parliamentary system of government, proposed a bicameral legislature, a strong executive, and a judicial branch. The New Jersey Plan, which was designed to protect the interests of smaller states, proposed a unicameral legislature, a weak executive, and a judicial branch that would be appointed by the executive.