Which U.S. law replaced the Articles of Confederation as the nation’s governing framework?

The United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation as the nation’s governing framework.

The Articles of Confederation took effect in 1781 and created a loose union of states with a weak central government. Congress under the Articles could conduct diplomacy and manage western lands, but it lacked effective power to tax, regulate interstate commerce, or enforce many decisions directly.

Delegates met at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, officially intending to improve the Articles. Instead, they produced an entirely new document that created a stronger federal system with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and took effect after ratification by the required states.

The Articles were not simply amended into the Constitution. Article XIII required unanimous approval for changes to the Articles, while the Constitution used a different ratification process. The Articles formally remained the prior framework until the new government began operating in 1789.