1. Informal Amendments

2. What fraction vote is needed to propose an amendment?
1/4
1/3
2/3
3/4

3. What article of the Constitution structures the amendment process?5
0.1

4. What is it??
Changes to the Constitution that don’t involve change in the written word.

5. The Five Informalities:
1. Basic Legislation
2. Executive Action
3. Court Decisions
4. Party Practices
5. Custom

6. Basic Legislation
Congress has given “meat to the bones” of the Constitution.
Further defined judiciary
Set up executive branch
Defines loose terminology

7. Executive Action President’s actions not defined in Constitution:
Executive Agreements: with foreign heads of state.
Senate approval not needed.

8. Court Decisions
Supreme Court, with legitimacy from Marbury vs. Madison, interpret laws and actions of the people.

9. Party Practices Hold national conventions- which nominate candidates.
Influence cabinet appointments.

10. Customs Idea of a cabinet is a custom.
Vice President taking over for dead president was a custom until 1967.
No third term presidency- until 22nd amendment in 1951.