Unit 4: Amending the Constitution
Why do you think Congress can propose amendments but not ratify them?
The framers did not want to give Congress too much power, so they made sure that Congress alone could not change the Constitution. Otherwise, the law of the land could change every time a new party came into power. Instead, there is a check on the powers of Congress. Congress can propose amendments, but ultimately any changes to the Constitution must be approved by the people and the states.
Why did the framers of the Constitution make the process for amending it so difficult?
They wanted to make it difficult to change the Constitution to ensure the document would endure for many years to come, regardless of who was in power.
Second Amendment
an amendment to the United States Constitution related to the right to bear arms
First Amendment
an amendment to the United States Constitution that safeguards basic individual liberties
What are the two ways that an amendment can be proposed?
by a two-thirds vote of both the House and the Senate, or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures
civil
related to lawsuits involving the private rights of individuals
Bill of Rights
the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution
incriminate
to give evidence against
Three-fourths of the state legislatures must approve an amendment before it becomes part of the Constitution. If there are 50 states, how many state legislatures must approve a proposed amendment? (Note: A state either approves the amendment or it doesn't.)
38 states must ratify an amendment before it becomes part of the Constitution.
If someone is arrested and accused of a crime, what protection does the person have under the Sixth Amendment?
A person accused of a crime has the right to know why she is accused. She also has a right to a public trial by a fair and impartial jury.
Why is the 19th Amendment especially important for women?
It gave women the right to vote.
What does the First Amendment do?
It provides citizens with basic liberties including freedom of religion, speech, and press. It also allows citizens to peacefully object to government policies.
How did the 19th Amendment make the national government more representative of the people of the United States? Use details from the text to support your answer.
The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. This made the national government more representative of the people of the United States because women, who were about half the population, would now be represented by their national government.
Why are the rights protected in the First Amendment of special importance in a constitutional republic? Use details from the text to support your answer.
The First Amendment protects freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to assemble peacefully and to petition the government. These rights are crucial to a constitutional republic because without them, citizens are not truly free to express themselves without fear of government interference or punishment.
In what way was the Ninth Amendment "extra protection" for the rights of the nation's citizens? Use details from the text to support your answer.
The Ninth Amendment says that a citizen's rights are not limited to those listed in the Constitution. This was "extra protection" because it safeguarded people's rights even if those rights weren't spelled out in the Constitution.
