What was the first governing constitution of the United States, in force before the Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation were the first governing constitution of the United States, taking effect on March 1, 1781. Their formal name was the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.

The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles in November 1777, but every state had to ratify them before they could operate. Maryland’s approval in 1781 completed the process. The Articles created a unicameral Congress and preserved substantial sovereignty for the states, giving the central government limited authority.

Under the Articles, Congress could conduct diplomacy, declare war, manage western territories, and handle certain national matters. It could not directly tax citizens or regulate interstate commerce, and major decisions often required broad state agreement. Financial and administrative weaknesses contributed to calls for reform. The Constitutional Convention of 1787 ultimately replaced the Articles with the present Constitution, which began operating in 1789.