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

How did us military and foreign policy explain, How did US military and for...

How did US military and foreign policy play out during the 1940s and 1950s? What were the "hot spots"?

Ideal of christianity in the middle ages, Compare and contrast the religiou...

Compare and contrast the religious ideas of Buddhism that led to monasteries in Asia with the monastic ideal of Christianity in the Middle Ages.

Explain great depression and the new deal, What are the lasting legacies of...

What are the lasting legacies of the Great Depression and the New Deal?

Explain the concept of hierarchy, Explain the concept of hierarchy as it ap...

Explain the concept of hierarchy as it applied to power and leadership in the ancient world. Are there any distinct differences between the operation of this concept as it applies

Must be able to define and better understand the term, Must be able to defi...

Must be able to define and better understand the term Orders in Council Non-Intercourse Act Battle of Tippecanoe Fort McHenry Hartford Convention Missouri Compromise West Point

What are powers and functions of arizona government branches, What are the ...

What are the powers and functions of the Arizona Government branches? Executive, Legislature, Judicial As preparation for this activity, view the historical census data, United

Supreme court''s ruling in the case of marbury v. madison, The Supreme Cour...

The Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) A. stated that Congress had no authority to expand the power of the Supreme Court. B. stated that the Supreme

What groups might it line up with in the jewish past, Jewish tradition unde...

Jewish tradition understands a straight continuity between Ezra and the rabbis of the Talmud. More recent scholars have spoken about the emergence of a new religious movement. Are

Describe a contemporary monument in your city, • Explain whether you agree ...

• Explain whether you agree with the opinion of many Parisians in 1889 that the Eiffel Tower was a ridiculous eyesore that should have been torn down after the World"2019s Fair.

When and where did the civil war end-us war, When and where did the Civil W...

When and where did the Civil War end-US war? When Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office to begin his second term in March 1865, the war was nearly over. Grant's army beat Lee

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