Constitutional Constitutional AmendmentsAmendments

Culture in America in 1787Culture in America in 1787– No cars, few cities, no phones or TVs, No cars, few cities, no phones or TVs,

agrarian lifeagrarian life– Problems that faced Problems that faced thisthis America are in no America are in no

way the ones that face America way the ones that face America todaytoday– The people who wrote the constitution wrote The people who wrote the constitution wrote

it with the needs and concerns of their time it with the needs and concerns of their time in mind.in mind.

– Framers knew they could not make a Framers knew they could not make a government for all time.government for all time.

…So they made sure to leave room for adapting the constitution to meet the needs of future generations.

The constitution has been working for more than 200 years.

The Constitution is and is not the same the one written in 1787.

Constitutional change via formal and informal amendments This allows the Constitution to grow and

change with time – it’s a LIVING DOCUMENT!

Formal AmendmentFormal Amendment:: changes that changes that become part of the written language of the become part of the written language of the ConstitutionConstitution

Amendments are always PROPOSED at the NATIONAL level and Amendments are always PROPOSED at the NATIONAL level and RATIFIED at the STATE LEVEL…RATIFIED at the STATE LEVEL…

… … this is an example of what???this is an example of what???FEDERALISMFEDERALISM!!

There are There are 2727 amendments amendments The first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) were The first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) were

proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791.proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791.

Many people agree to support the ratification Many people agree to support the ratification of the constitution only if a Bill of Rights was of the constitution only if a Bill of Rights was implemented immediately!implemented immediately!

The Bill of Rights guarantees the The Bill of Rights guarantees the freedom of expression and belief, freedom of expression and belief, freedom and security of the freedom and security of the person, and fair and equal person, and fair and equal treatment before the law… treatment before the law…

Protects the people from the government!!!Protects the people from the government!!!

Additional amendment Additional amendment notes…notes…

13th, 14th, & 15th amendments are known as the Civil War Amendments

19th Amendment grants suffrage to women

22nd Amendment limits presidency to two four year terms

26th Amendment sets the minimum voting age at 18

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Amends

Informal Amendments-Informal Amendments- is is a change to the Constitution's a change to the Constitution's meaning or interpretation. There is meaning or interpretation. There is no real informal way to change the no real informal way to change the amendment, its not an actual amendment, its not an actual change to the Constitution; rather, change to the Constitution; rather, it’s the way we look at the it’s the way we look at the Constitution that changes.Constitution that changes.

These changes have come from five sources…These changes have come from five sources…

Passage of basic legislation Passage of basic legislation by Congressby Congresso Passes laws that explain certain parts Passes laws that explain certain parts

of the Constitution. of the Constitution. o Passes laws that fill in details Passes laws that fill in details

(Constitution is just the “skeleton”) (Constitution is just the “skeleton”) about the specific ways the about the specific ways the government operates.government operates.

o Examples:Examples:o Article III, Sect. 1 --- Judiciary Act of 1789 Article III, Sect. 1 --- Judiciary Act of 1789

http://www.ushistory.org/gov/images/00011994.jpghttp://www.ushistory.org/gov/images/00011994.jpg

o Article II --- Creation of executive Article II --- Creation of executive departments, agencies and offices departments, agencies and offices http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/Executive.shtmlhttp://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/Executive.shtml

Actions taken by the Actions taken by the PresidentPresident

o A President may choose to make an A President may choose to make an executive agreement, or pact, with another executive agreement, or pact, with another country instead of a treaty, or a formal country instead of a treaty, or a formal agreement between two sovereign countries agreement between two sovereign countries that require congressional approval.that require congressional approval.

o With authority as commander-in-chief of the With authority as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the President has entered war armed forces, the President has entered war without a formal declaration by Congress.without a formal declaration by Congress.

Key decisions of the Key decisions of the Supreme CourtSupreme Court

o The way they explain parts of the The way they explain parts of the Constitution when ruling on cases…Constitution when ruling on cases…INTERPRETATION!INTERPRETATION!

o Woodrow Wilson said, “the Supreme Woodrow Wilson said, “the Supreme Court is a Constitution convention in Court is a Constitution convention in continuous session”.continuous session”.

Activities of Political Activities of Political PartiesParties

o No mention of parties in the ConstitutionNo mention of parties in the Constitutiono Parties have decreased the importance Parties have decreased the importance

of the of the electoral collegeelectoral college, the group that , the group that formally selects the nation’s President.formally selects the nation’s President.

CustomCustom

o Cabinet – 15 executive departments that Cabinet – 15 executive departments that advise the President, developed out of advise the President, developed out of custom, not because the Constitution custom, not because the Constitution says so.says so.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet/