Chapter 3 The Constitution

although the text of the constitution has changed very little our understanding of its content has evolved significantly. This process of constitutional change occurs in _________ ways

2

how many times has the constitution been formally amended

27

federalism

a system of gov in which a written constitution divides power between a central or national gov and several regional government ex: a centralized government allows the states to use the same currency. However, states would still be able to set their own laws as well, for example, whether a death penalty would be used in the state.

article V

amending the constitution

court decisions

any court cases (supreme) ex: Brown v. Board

basic legislation

any law that is passed acts of congress ex: "no child left behind" ESSA

separation of powers

basic principle of American system of gov that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among ex: no branch can exercise the powers of another

custom

cabinets (president) ex: senatorial courtesy sec of defense attorney gen. sec. state

what are some example of proposed amendments that passed Congress but failed to be ratified?

child labor district house seat equal rights setting members/vote 680,000 people citizenship revoked if gift accepted/country w/o consent congress granting congress the right to deal w/slavery

checks and balances

complex system of overlapping the powers of the legislative executive and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the other two ex: the Executive Branch can veto bills from the Legislative Branch, but the Legislative Branch can override the veto

article II

creates the executive branch

article III

creates the judicial branch

article I

creates the legislative branch

executive action

executive arguments passed by the president ex: when the president signs treaties/another country

party practices

if the party changes how what goes on during election time ex: nomination of candidates for presidency or other government officials

article VI

national debts, supremacy of national law and oaths of office

limited government

no government is all powerful the government may only do things people give the power to do ex: gov must obey the law/constitutionalism

what role does the President play in the amendment process?

none

formal amendment methods: method 2

proposed by a national convention called by congress at the request of 2/3 of the state of state ratified by 3/4 of the states legislatures ratified by 3/4 of the states

formal amendment methods: method 1

proposed by congress by a 2/3 vote in both house ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures ratified by 3/4 of the states legislatures

article VII

ratifying the constitution

article IV

relations among the states

article 5

sets out two methods for the proposed and two methods for the ratifications of constitutional amendments

what is the only limit on amendments?

slavery/before 1808

popular sovereignty

the people are the only source for any and all governmental power ex: people decide who they want their leaders to be and they exercise the powers given to them

judicial review

the power of a court to determine the constitutional acts and overturn executive ex: judges review the cases before they reach the supreme court

formal amendments are changes /additions that become part of the _______________of the constitution itself

written language

may congress impose a time limit on the states for considering ratification

yes (6 or 7 years)

may a state consider ratification more than once

yes if there is not 3/4 vote already 38 states