Preview

Changing The Constitution Assignment

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
183 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Changing The Constitution Assignment
Government : Constitutional Principles : Section Four
Changing the Constitution Assignment
Write a one-page essay explaining the process for changing the Constitution.
What is the difference between formal amendments and informal amendments?
Why are these practices so important and how have they contributed to the Constitution’s ability to last for so long?
Point value: 25 points
Grading Rubric:
Essay is at least one full page in length – 10 points
Essay clearly and factually explains the answer to each question asked – 15 points.

A "Formal amendment" is one that actually adds to or changes the US constitution. It is approved by the states and becomes law. An "informal amendment" is a change to the meaning or interpretation of the Constitution of the united states. There is no real informal way to change the constitution, and its not actual change to the wording of the constitution; rather its the way we preceive the Constitution that changes. One that comes to mind is the equal rights amendment (1972) which prohibits the inequality of men and women. Opponents say that the amendment is no longer needed, as the issues are already laws.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The History of the Ratification of the Constitution
    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The History of the Ratification of the Constitution

    Historical Context: Today, over 200 years after it was written ad ratified (approved), most Americans think of the US Constitution as something almost sacred. We assume that this great document has always been honored and looked up to. This is NOT true. When it was written in 1787 and submitted to the states for ratification, it set off months of fierce and often bitter debate. There were, of course, many who welcomed it as a stronger and more effective national government which could successfully tie the 13 states together into one nation. But others were afraid of this proposed powerful new national government. Why should they now set up a new distant central government which could threaten their liberties just as King George and Parliament had? The debate went on in towns and villages across the country for months. Some of the smaller states ratified the new Constitution quickly, but in most states the debate continued. In February of 1788, the Massachusetts convention voted 187 to 168 to ratify or approve the Constitution. In June, Virginia ratified 89 to 79. New York followed almost immediately. Now, with the approval of 11 states, the new government was established. In April of 1789 George Washington was sworn in as President, even though two states still had not approved the Constitution. It took North Carolina until November 1789 and Rhode Island until May 1790 to join the new government.…

    • 725 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Constitution Paper
    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Constitution Paper

    In this paper I will discuss how the Constitution addressed the weaknesses in the Article of Confederation, how the Constitution addressed the complaints in the Declaration of Independence, as well as speaking about the Great Compromise and how representation of states in Congress is determined. I will also go into some detail about the Bill of rights.…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    POL 201 American National Government
    • 1415 Words
    • 5 Pages

    POL 201 American National Government

    Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.…

    • 1415 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    205 BillOfRights
    • 386 Words
    • 1 Page

    205 BillOfRights

    The Constitution and the Bill of Rights protect individuals, but also give the government the power to pass laws to restrict behavior. Legislation, the Bill of Rights, court decisions, and the amendment process work together to both safeguard individual rights and limit them as deemed appropriate to protect the rights to safety and security for all. When people bring a case to the courts, judges can decide whether or not the Constitution allows a law that restricts the rights of individuals.…

    • 386 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Mr Alex Rusby
    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Mr Alex Rusby

    The amendments can be proposed by a two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress, once this is passed it is then ratified by the legislatures in three-quarters of the States. The constitution can also be amended by a national convention called by Congress at the request of the State Legislatures, which can then be ratified by conventions in three-quarters of the States. These processes are interchangeable; the houses of Congress can propose an amendment and it can be ratified by the States, or vice-versa. No amendments have ever been passed through the use of conventions, as gaining a two-thirds majority of State legislatures is too substantial. The US constitution has been criticised for being too rigid making it difficult to amend and as the parties within government become more homogenous and party voting increases, the process of amendments gets even tougher.…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Does the U.S constitution work?
    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Does the U.S constitution work?

    The first main strength of the U.S constitution is that it’s ability to adapt for changing America. The first ten amendments for example still are vital in American life as they ensure all Americans the basic rights such as free speech, freedom of religion and the right not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. These are such vital rights which enable for a free society. Also many amendments are almost inviting for the federal government to interpret them. For example the 16th amendment which allows the federal government to collect income tax it doesn’t state how much income tax to collect and therefore it allows the federal government to decide for itself on what it thinks how much income tax to collect depending on the economic climate. This shows that the U.S constitution can adapt for changing economic times and state of the federal government. Also judicial review enables to federal government to be able to interpret the constitution best suited for that time. For example in 1972 the Supreme…

    • 849 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    CJA 484 Criminal Law Foundations Evaluation
    • 1424 Words
    • 4 Pages

    CJA 484 Criminal Law Foundations Evaluation

    With a great deal of debate the design of the United States along with the lay out by the founders of the country who took their roll in laying down the “rules” of the United States of America very seriously. The Articles of Confederation, the Bill of Rights, and the US Constitution lay the floor work of a layer of protection afforded to all United States Citizens. Each of the doctrines provides a step towards the written words that have granted many men and women protection from persecution as well as freedoms not received in other parts of the world. The last piece of the three historical documents, the US Constitution is comprised of a set of amendments, which have been written to protect several different rights that as a citizen are protected from false persecution. These constitutional amendments play a large roll, in the manner in which aspects of court procedure handled in both juvenile and adult court systems.…

    • 1424 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Amendment Process
    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Amendment Process

    The Constitution is essentially a rough draft. The Amendments to the Constitution are the edited versions. The Constitution is a living document that the whole country relies upon as it grows and any changes to the Constitution should be meaningful. Article V outlines the procedures amending the Constitution. All previous Amendments to the Constitution were created to guarantee rights and provide clarification (Patterson 2010).…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A constitution written in the 18th century does not work in the 21st century. Discuss with reference to the USA.
    • 835 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A constitution written in the 18th century does not work in the 21st century. Discuss with reference to the USA.

    The American constitution’s amendment process is long and difficult, which is mainly due to it…

    • 835 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Constitution Controversy
    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Constitution Controversy

    In the 1850's, there was much controversy and tension over the constitution between the states and the people. It did contribute to the failure of the union because of the different interpretations of the constitution, the conflictions of other documents, and tensions of the states and people.…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Failed Attempt to Amend the Constitution
    • 3653 Words
    • 12 Pages

    A Failed Attempt to Amend the Constitution

    There are essentially two ways spelled out in the Constitution for how to propose an amendment. The first method is for a bill to pass both houses of the legislature, by a two-thirds majority in each. Once the bill has passed both houses, it goes on to the states. This is the route taken by all current amendments. Because of some long outstanding amendments, such as the 27th, Congress will normally put a time limit (typically seven years) for the bill to be approved as an amendment (for example, see the 21st and 22nd). The second method prescribed is for a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments. These amendments are then sent to the states to be approved by three-fourths of the legislatures or conventions.There has been many attempts to change the information. There have been many failed attempts to change the process.…

    • 3653 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Amendments In The United Sates Constitution
    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Amendments In The United Sates Constitution

    Amendments in the United Sates constitution have changed our government and our society. Amendments are usually ratified due to social events that occur over time .Ideologies also pay a considerable role to the ratification process as well. If it wasn't for political groups such as The Anti-Feudalist we may not have obtained the 1st amendment which sates "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (The Bill of Rights) Another Amendment which is coherent to the 1st is the 10th Amendment which states "The powers not…

    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Did The Constitution Change
    • 160 Words
    • 1 Page

    How Did The Constitution Change

    The U.S Constitution has changed many times, Many of these changes were during a Convection to discuss how to fix the problems with the way the constitution was made they did give the people power at first but to much. When the constitution was first founded it gave the government to weak and gave them to little power they couldn't enforce any of their laws when the revolts started they couldn't stop them without breaking the constitution so they had to start a convection. A convection is when representatives from every state comes together to discuss an issue occurs with either the constitution or when the government gets too powerful. The constitution was made to ensure that the government has its limits, it also ensures that our government…

    • 160 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of The United States Constitution
    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of The United States Constitution

    The United States Constitution, adopted by the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787 and executed on March 4, 1789, replaced the less effective Articles of Confederation, and is now the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the oldest written constitution still in use, and plays a decisive role in US law and politics. The Constitution is often hailed as a philosophical marvel, and serves as a template for several other nations. Nevertheless, it has been challenged numerous times since its creation. Our founders included a process to amend the constitution if necessary as they foresaw this. The first ten of these amendments are justly named the Bill of Rights for they protect the natural rights of citizens by putting limitations…

    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Importance Of Civil War Amendments
    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Importance Of Civil War Amendments

    On October 17, 1878, a written document called the U.S Constitution was signed. The U.S Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. But, back in 1878 it was signed off to replace the previous document, this document was called the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation were too weak and not every state agreed with its laws. Now, the strong U.S Constitution has twenty-seven amendments written in it, where every citizen must follow each amendment. An amendment is a change in a legal document made by changing, altering or omitting a specific term. If an amendment is to be written in the U.S Constitution, it first must be voted by at least two-thirds of Congress. This includes the Senate and House of Representatives…

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics