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