What comes before the Articles of the Constitution?

In terms of the order of sections in the Constitution, the Preamble comes before the Articles.

Though is you are asking what document was used in American government before the Constitution, The Articles of Confederation were used.

Explanation:

Order of the Constitution: Preamble, Article I, Article II, Article III, Article V, Article VI, and Article VII.

Before the Constitution was established in 1788, America's first attempt at a government was the adoption of the Articles of Confederation

answer:

the colonists had their reasons for creating a weak central (federal) government under the articles of confederation. not only did they create a weak federal government, they restricted the powers of the state governors because they were so concerned about the leaders abusing their power.