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

Give your opinion on whether or not the safeguards, Please respond to the f...

Please respond to the following: Much of the wealth created in the 1920s was on paper only, in the form of inflated stock values based on speculation. 1. Give your opinion on wheth

What was jane addams view on the foreign policy, What was Jane Addams view ...

What was Jane Addams view on the foreign policy? And what was President Theodore Roosevelt's views on it? What did they BOTH agree on? How did they work in support of or opposition

Show the rome''s successes and failures, Rome's successes and failures have...

Rome's successes and failures have less to do with the skills and failings of the Romans themselves than with circumstances beyond their control. agree/disagree discuss [no wrong a

Gorbachev pursued glasnost and perestroika reforms, Gorbachev pursued glasn...

Gorbachev pursued glasnost and perestroika reforms in part because A. the war in Afghanistan had drained the nation's resources. B. the Soviet Union had already demonstrated

German army and drove into germany, In 1917, as World War I raged through E...

In 1917, as World War I raged through Europe, Russia: 1)finally broke through the German army and drove into Germany 2) defeated the Austrians and invaded the Balkans 3) e

American realism focuses on common people, American realism focuses on comm...

American realism focuses on common people and European realism on mainly heroic people. b. American realism wanted to show reality without a more important cause, European realism

Photographic quality of jan van eyck''s work, The photographic quality of J...

The photographic quality of Jan Van Eyck's work has been both praised and criticized. Describe your impression of this precise painting style in comparison to another Renaissance a

How they changed and differ to middle colonies, Describe the early colonies...

Describe the early colonies and how they changed and differ to middle colonies.

Under mustafa kemal''s leadership, Under Mustafa Kemal's leadership A) r...

Under Mustafa Kemal's leadership A) religion and state were separated B) religious courts were abolished C) women received the right to vote D) women could seek divorce and no m

How and when did texas gain its independence, how and when did Texas gain i...

how and when did Texas gain its independence and how and when did it enter the union

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