1. Development of the Unwritten Constitution

2. America’s First President
George Washington served two terms as president ( )
Made decisions and policies that influenced the nature of U.S. government
Under his presidency, an unwritten constitution developed in response to changing times and circumstances.

3. Executive Interpretation
Action and Custom

4. What is “unwritten constitution?”
Definition: the collection of procedures adopted by our government that are solely acted upon out of tradition and custom.
Procedures are not directed by the U.S Constitution!

5. The Presidential Cabinet
Definition: an informal meeting of the president’s advisors
Advisors give advice to the president when developing foreign and domestic policy.
Early presidents consulted with congressional leaders, but more often than not, cabinet members are the heads of executive departments.

6. Who is in a President’s Cabinet?
Washington appointed:
Secretary of the Treasury – manage finances
Secretary of the State – foreign affairs
Secretary of War – military matters
Attorney General – chief lawyer of the federal government

7. Congressional Interpretation
Action and Custom

8. Lobbying
Definition: Actions by people representing special interest groups for the purpose of influencing legislation
Protected by the First Amendment’s right to petition, but also regulated by federal law

9. Loose vs. Strict Interpretation
Strict: favors a narrow interpretation of the constitution
Government can only do the things that the document says it can do
Loose: favors a “free reading of the constitution, giving the government room to act”

10. Judicial Interpretation
Action and Custom

11. Judicial Review
Definition: the power for the judicial branch to declare laws “unconstitutional”
“Unconstitutional:” laws that go against the fundamentals of the constitution