1. Principles of the U.S. Constitution Part 4 Flexibility of the Constitution

2. Topic/Objective: To identify principles of the US Constitution. Essential Question: In what ways is the US Constitution considered a “flexible” document?

3. *Elastic Clause 1) Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution 2) Gives Congress “the right to make all laws necessary and proper” to carry out its expressed powers

4. *Elastic Clause 3) Example: Hamilton's creation of the National Bank o No power to create banks is delegated to the Federal Government, however it was deemed necessary and proper to form a bank to aid in Congress's power to coin money and regulate the economy.

5. 1) Article V of the Constitution 2) Amendment Process: o This is the changing or adding of laws to the Constitution. All amendments are permanent, in order to nullify that amendment, another one must be added to repeal it. *Amendment Process

6. 3) For Example: Prohibition o The 21 st amendment has been established in order to repeal the 18 th amendment. The 18 th amendment prohibited the use of liquor and alcohol due to religious reasons. This law did not satisfy the people and therefore, the Constitution had to be changed *Amendment Process

7. 4) A Constitutional Amendment can be proposed in one of two ways: o By 2/3 of the members of both the House and the Senate o At a convention called by 2/3 of the states 5)After an Amendment is proposed it must be ratified. This can be in one of two ways: o By 3/4 of the State Legislatures o By ¾ of ratifying conventions in the States *Amendment Process