Constitutional Amendments

Culture in America in 1787 No cars, few cities, no phones or TVs, agrarian life Problems that faced this America are in no way the ones that face America today The people who wrote the constitution wrote it with the needs and concerns of their time in mind. Framers knew they could not make a government for all time.

The constitution has been working for more than 200 years. …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 Amendment: changes that become part of the written language of the Constitution Amendments are always PROPOSED at the NATIONAL level and RATIFIED at the STATE LEVEL… … this is an example of what??? FEDERALISM!

There are 27 amendments The first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) were proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791. Many people agree to support the ratification of the constitution only if a Bill of Rights was implemented immediately! The Bill of Rights guarantees the freedom of expression and belief, freedom and security of the person, and fair and equal treatment before the law… Protects the people from the government!!!

Additional amendment 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- is a change to the Constitution's meaning or interpretation. There is no real informal way to change the amendment, its not an actual change to the Constitution; rather, it’s the way we look at the Constitution that changes. These changes have come from five sources…

Passage of basic legislation by Congress Passes laws that explain certain parts of the Constitution. Passes laws that fill in details (Constitution is just the “skeleton”) about the specific ways the government operates. Examples: Article III, Sect. 1 --- Judiciary Act of 1789 http://www.ushistory.org/gov/images/00011994.jpg Article II --- Creation of executive departments, agencies and offices http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/Executive.shtml

Actions taken by the President A President may choose to make an executive agreement, or pact, with another country instead of a treaty, or a formal agreement between two sovereign countries that require congressional approval. With authority as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the President has entered war without a formal declaration by Congress.

Key decisions of the Supreme Court The way they explain parts of the Constitution when ruling on cases…INTERPRETATION! Woodrow Wilson said, “the Supreme Court is a Constitution convention in continuous session”.

Activities of Political Parties No mention of parties in the Constitution Parties have decreased the importance of the electoral college, the group that formally selects the nation’s President.

Custom Cabinet – 15 executive departments that advise the President, developed out of custom, not because the Constitution says so. http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet/