Chapter 3:3 Change by Other Means U. S. Constitution

Can you list the ways the meaning of the Constitution can be expanded other than through amendment? Certainly!

The Constitution has been expanded through congressional legislation, presidential action, court decisions, party practices, and government custom and usage.

This is known as the “unwritten constitution.”

I believe in a narrow interpretation of the Constitution You’re a “strict constructionist!”

I believe in a broad interpretation of the Constitution. You loose constructionist!

The Constitution provides a framework for government. The authors left the job of working out the details of to the Congress.

Executive Agreements understandings between two or more heads-of-state do not require Senate approval only binding on the administration which makes them

Executive Orders a regulation issued by the President often issued in an emergency has the force of law once it is published in the Federal Register

Judicial Powers appellate jurisdiction, or the right to hear cases already heard by lower courts original jurisdiction, the right to hear some cases before any other court has done so

Judicial Review the power to interpret the Constitution and declare laws or actions of government officials unconstitutional

Additional Customs and Traditions cabinet political parties congressional committees

The Cabinet made up of department heads usually called secretaries serve the President as advisers and executors of policy

Political Parties provide a means by which people with similar views on issues can join together in an attempt to set policy

Congressional Committees a system to weed-out bad bills -most business is taken care of in committee