The Articles of Confeeration and Perpetual Union, also the Articles of Confederation, was the first governing constitution of the United States of America. Formally, the thirteen states were thirteen independent states (countries) until their ratification (proposed in 1777) was completed in 1781; then came to legal existence the "United States of America" as a union with a confederation government, yet, as the Articles (and the succeeding Constitution) stipulate, the states retained sovereignty and every function of sovereignty not specifically deputed to the government of the federation.