Us goverment : amending the constitution, History

Assignment Help:

Amending the Constitution

The Framers who wrote the U.S. Constitution were well aware that they could not foresee all the events, emergencies, and changes that would inevitably confront the government of the United States. As a result, they deliberately created a Constitution that would be flexible and adaptable. Many of the provisions in the Constitution, such as Congress's power to regulate commerce between the states, are deliberately broad, even vague, in order to allow legislators some latitude to adapt these powers to changing times and needs. Americans still debate the extent and the limits of Congress's power to regulate commerce, just as they debate many other provisions of the Constitution.

The main way that the Framers created a Constitution that could be adapted to changing times was to provide for that Constitution to be amended. Amending the U.S. Constitution is not easy, nor is it meant to be. James Madison and the other Framers wanted the Constitution to be changed only in rare circumstances, and only when there was overwhelming support for doing so. To amend the Constitution, the proposed amendment must first be approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, then submitted to the states. Three-quarters of the state legislatures (today 38 out of 50) must then ratify the amendment in order for it to be added to the Constitution. (Alternately, two-thirds of the states can request that a Constitutional convention be called to amend the Constitution, and proposed amendments can be ratified by Constitutional conventions in three-quarters of the states, instead of the by the state legislatures.)

 


Related Discussions:- Us goverment : amending the constitution

Significance of passages in the context of jewish history, Write 4-5 senten...

Write 4-5 sentences identifying and explaining the significance of the following passages in the context of Jewish history. Josephus, Antiquities 18:63-64 Deuteronomy 16:1-2 2 C

Show the 1828 presidential election result, Did the "corrupt bargain" help ...

Did the "corrupt bargain" help Andrew Jackson win the 1828 presidential election?

Why did the english settlements, Why did the English settlements in what we...

Why did the English settlements in what we know now as "Canada" never rebel against the British Rule even after their neighbors in the thirteen southern colonies did?

Why was the military revolution important, Why was the military revolution ...

Why was the military revolution important? what did it mean in the course of history? The governor of Virginia blamed Nat Turner's revolt on: a Northern anti-slavery opinion.

Influence health and disease in developed countries, Summarize the signific...

Summarize the significance of both historical and current factors that influence health and disease in developed international countries and/or developing third world countries by

Vietnam war for my history class, I need a thesis about it was wrong to get...

I need a thesis about it was wrong to get into vietnam war for my history class and some scholarly articles.

Why was considered so important to include in constitution, Looking at the ...

Looking at the Bill of Rights choose 2 or 3 and explain what you think the original intent was for each amendment that you choose. Why was each considered so important to include i

Apply the chief characteristics of the neolithic revolution, Throughout the...

Throughout the Paleolithic Age, the human population had been small and relatively stable. With the shift from food gathering to food production, however, populations grew exponent

Define separation of powers and checks and balances, Please define separati...

Please define separation of powers and checks and balances... What is the Definition of Separation of Powers, Definition of Checks and balances

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd