Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”
description
Transcript of Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”
![Page 1: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Section 3: Informal changes to the Constitution
Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”
![Page 2: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Quick review…2 methods of proposal:
2/3 of both bodies of Congress2/3 of a National Convention
2 methods of ratification: ¾ of state legislatures¾ of state ratifying conventions
The Formal Amendment Process
![Page 3: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
“Informal Amendment” Process
Broad language provides us with a “skeleton” of a government…
Phrase is a misnomer – Why?
1. Political parties
2. * The judiciary
3. * Congress and legislation
4. Executive action
5. Customs and precedents
![Page 4: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Political Parties1796, George
Washington: “the baneful effects of the spirit of the party.”
Electoral College, Congress, political conventions, appointments and nominations…
QUESTION – The United States government, Government through the people or Government through the party???
![Page 5: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
The JudiciaryLandmark court
cases…
The Judiciary is the ultimate authority of how the Constitution is interpreted!
* Marbury v. Madison, 1803judicial review…
![Page 6: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
“A constitutional convention in continuous session.” – Woodrow Wilson
EXAMPLES: Griswold v. Connecticut – contraception Loving v. Virginia – interracial marriage Roe v. Wade – abortion
Judicial changes in the interpretation of the Constitution = nation's outlook changes as well!
The Judiciary
![Page 7: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Congress and the purpose of passing laws…Adding “flesh to the bones”Interpretation of constitutional provisions
“Elastic clause”/“Necessary and Proper clause”
EXAMPLE: Powers of the Congress and the Necessary and
Proper clause… Commerce clause? – “interstate commerce”
Legislation and Congress
![Page 8: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Legislation and CongressJudiciary Act of 1789…
* Article III, Section 1: “…such inferior courts as Congress saw fit to establish.”
QUESTION – What has the Congress been left to decide?
![Page 9: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Executive ActionPresidents have used
their powers to define unclear constitutional provisions…
EXAMPLE:Congress's power to
declare war and the President's power to wage war…
What is the dilemma?
![Page 10: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Presidents have extended their authority over foreign policy and avoided the constitutional requirement for the Senate to approve formal treaties…
Executive agreements are pacts made by a President with heads of a foreign government…
FDR and executive agreements, post WWII
Treaties: formal agreement between two or more sovereign states… (AII, S2)
Examples?
Executive Action
![Page 11: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Customs and PrecedentsEach branch of
government has developed traditions that fall outside the provisions of the Constitution…
GW, FDR and the “two term” tradition…
Which amendment???
![Page 12: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
EXAMPLES: President's cabinetSenatorial Courtesy (Federal district court judges,
U.S. attorneys, and federal marshals.)
QUESTION– Why is this important and what does it do?
Customs and Precedents
![Page 13: Chapter 3 – “The Constitution”](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062222/568162ca550346895dd356b3/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Quick Review: *** In most of these cases, the Constitution was not
actually changed…
*** These changes in meaning are significant because they can happen by a simple judge's ruling; and they are not a part of the Constitution, so they can be changed again later.