1. The U.S. Constitution Changes Over Time The Bill of Rights: A Brief History
The Founding Fathers were so smart, they even made ways to make sure the Constitution could be changed!
Why?
To keep it as the legitimate document of our government!

2. What did the Constitution first look like?
1789
Had only Articles 1 through 7
NO BILL OF RIGHTS!!
But were there guaranteed rights?
Yes!
Article I, Sec. 9
Congress can not get rid of the following rights:
Habeas corpus
Citizens have right to trial before a judge
Bills of attainder laws
Laws that punish citizens before they get to court
Used during Revolution against Loyalists to take their items
Ex post facto laws
laws that apply to an action that occurs before the law was made.
Example: raising drinking age to 21 and then arresting all 18 years for drinking

3. Bill of Rights 1791 Bill of Rights added to protect people’s rights.
Amendments 1 through 10
Amendment = changes to Constitution

4. Methods of Amending the Constitution
Found in Article V
“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution” OR
“on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments”
Both work only if,
“ratified by the [state] legislatures of three fourths of the several states”,
“by conventions in three fourths thereof”

5. How Article 5 allows for the Constitution to be amended…Part 1
By a vote in Congress
All amendments have come this way.
How does this work?
Senate
Must approve by 2/3 vote (67 total)
House of Representatives
Must approve by 2/3 votes (290 total)

6. How Article V allows for the Constitution to be amended…Part 2
2/3 of the states agree to call a Constitutional Convention
34 states must agree!
When has this happened?
1781?
Why hasn’t it happened since?
Constitution does not say that while at the Convention, delegates are limited to only making one amendment.

7. How does an amendment get ratified?
Added to the Constitution if agreed to
“by the [state] legislatures of three fourths (3/4) of the several states”, Or
“by conventions in three fourths (3/4) thereof”

8. Can you take an amendment off once it is added?
NO!
It must be repealed
Reversed by legislative act
Example:
18th Amendment (1919)
Started Prohibition
Made selling of alcohol illegal
21st Amendment (1932)
Got rid of Prohibition

9. So what does that get us??? 27 amendments
Amendments 1-10 called Bill of Rights
Designed to protect individual freedoms of citizens.

10. What are some of the other 17?
Women’s right to vote
21st (1932)
Ended Prohibition
22nd (1951)
2 term limit on POTUS
26th (1971)
Voting age set at 18
13th (1865)
Abolishes slavery
14th (1868)
Offers due process to all citizens
15th (1870)
Rights can not be denied according to color
18th (1919)
Prohibition

11. So what is the most recent attempt to add an amendment?
1972
Equal Rights Amendment
Would have barred discrimination based on sex
Only 30 states ratified it.
Needed 37!
Has not been pushed for since then…

12. So what is not mentioned in the Constitution?
Executive agreements
Arrangements that Presidents establish with foreign governments that do not require Senate approval
Unlike formal treaties that do need Senate approval
Example:
FDR and Churchill in WWII
Worked together to fight off Hitler quickly
We gave them ships for free!

13. What about political parties?
George Washington warned us to not become split into different parties!
Bad for a republic!
Why?
It always makes a minority group!
By 1804
Political parties were well established
Organized groups that seek to win elections in order to influence the activities of government.

14. Today there are 2 major political parties!

15. Why else are political parties bad?
They make factions
People or groups of people who are usually motivated by self-interest.
Tea Parties
Summer of 2009
Neo-Nazis in America