Why was there no national judiciary established under the Articles of Confederation?

Why was there no national judiciary established under the Articles of Confederation?

• A. The need for a stronger executive branch
• B. To maintain states' rights and prevent central authority
• C. Judicial power was distributed among the states
• D. Lack of funds to support a judiciary

Answer: (B)

The absence of a national judiciary under the Articles of Confederation stemmed largely from a desire to maintain states' rights and limit central authority. The framers of the Articles were wary of creating a strong federal government, which they feared could lead to tyranny similar to what they had experienced under British rule. By avoiding the establishment of a national judiciary, they sought to empower the states and ensure that legal matters remained under the jurisdiction of local governments. This structure was reflective of the broader political philosophy at the time, which emphasized state sovereignty and the belief that state courts were better equipped to handle local issues. While various factors contributed to the lack of a national judiciary, the primary motivation was the commitment to decentralization and autonomy for each state, as prioritizing states' rights was a fundamental principle in the Articles of Confederation.

The absence of a national judiciary under the Articles of Confederation stemmed largely from a desire to maintain states' rights and limit central authority. The framers of the Articles were wary of creating a strong federal government, which they feared could lead to tyranny similar to what they had experienced under British rule. By avoiding the establishment of a national judiciary, they sought to empower the states and ensure that legal matters remained under the jurisdiction of local governments.

This structure was reflective of the broader political philosophy at the time, which emphasized state sovereignty and the belief that state courts were better equipped to handle local issues. While various factors contributed to the lack of a national judiciary, the primary motivation was the commitment to decentralization and autonomy for each state, as prioritizing states' rights was a fundamental principle in the Articles of Confederation.