Constitutional Change by Other Means Chapter 3 Section 3 SSCG3: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution

Starter (S12) In your own words, describe three freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights. Answer:

Georgia Standards SSCG3: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution

Review Formal Amendment Process 4 methods Federal Nature of the Process 27 Amendments First 10 is the Bill of Rights Looked at Later Amendments

Other Methods of Change (page 79) 1. The passage of basic legislation by Congress 2. Actions taken by the President 3. Key decisions of the Supreme Court 4. The activities of Political parties 5. Custom

Basic Legislation (page 79) Congress has filled out gaps in the Constitution. Judiciary Act of 1789: all of the federal courts, except the Supreme Court, have been set up by acts of Congress 25th Amendments deals with President – Vice President succession

Executive Action (page 80) Only Congress can Declare War Executive Agreement is a pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state Treaty: is a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states. Difference: Treaties have to be approved by the Senate. Executive agreements do not, but are still legally binding.

Court Decisions (page 80) Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the Supreme Courts power of Judicial Review

Party Practices (page 81) Nothing in the Constitution or Law establish the right of parties to nominate a Presidential Candidate. Parties have converted the Electoral College from the group that makes the formal selection of the Nations President to a “rubber stamp” for each State’s popular vote.

Custom (page 81) Cabinet: 15 executive departments. It is an advisory body to the President. Senatorial Courtesy: The Senate will only approve a presidential appointee who is acceptable to the Senator or Senators of the President’s party from the State involved. Example: a federal judge or a U.S. Marshal. Unwritten law. No third term 22nd Amendment

Summary Basic Legislation Executive Action Court Decisions Party Practices Custom

Group Activity Page 83 May States Impose Terms limits for Members of Congress Read and answer Questions 1 – 3 under Decide for yourself

Homework Chapter 4, Section 1 Page 95, Section 1 Assessment Questions 1 - 4

Activity Handout: Ratification 10 Points Turn in at End of Class

Vocabulary Word List (V4) 1. Politics: The science of government; political affairs, or the contest of parties for power. 2. Philosophy: The science which tries to account for the phenomena of the universe; the general principles underlying some branch of knowledge. 3. Fundamental: Pertaining to the foundation; essential; primary. A leading principle which serves as the groundwork of a system; an essential. 4. Principle: Cause or origin; a general truth; a fundamental law; a rule of action. 5. Preamble: An introduction; introductory part of a statute.

Vocabulary Word List - Cont 6. Compare: To bring together and examine the relations between; to estimate one by another. 7. Contrast: To set in opposition; to show the difference or heighten the effect. Opposition or comparison of things; a person or thing strikingly different. 8. Theory: Speculation; hypothesis to explain something; rules or knowledge of an art as distinguished from practice. 9. Evaluate: To value carefully; to ascertain the amount of. 10. Concept: An object conceived by the mind; a general notion of a class of objects.