Was there an Executive or Judicial Branch in the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles of Confederation established a framework for the government of the United States right after the Revolutionary War, but it did not create an Executive Branch or a distinct Judicial Branch. Instead, the government was characterized by a weak central authority, with most powers retained by the individual states.

The lack of an Executive Branch meant that there was no president or executive leader to enforce laws or oversee the functioning of the government. Decision-making was left to Congress, which could not effectively execute or enforce any regulations due to the absence of an executive authority.

Furthermore, the Articles did not provide for a federal judiciary to interpret laws or settle disputes between states or citizens. This lack of a national court system significantly limited the ability of the government to enforce laws or provide a unified legal framework.

This structure contributed to many operational challenges and eventually led to the Constitutional Convention, where the U.S. Constitution was drafted to address these shortcomings and establish a more balanced government with separate Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.