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

Should race play a role in public policy and elections, Should race play a ...

Should race play a role in public policy and elections/politics in general? why or why not?

Augustine''s transcendence and spiritual city, Describe the Ravenna and wha...

Describe the Ravenna and what examples of Augustine's transcendence and "spiritual city" you see in it

What spurred social movements of the 60s and 70s in the us, What spurred so...

What spurred social movements of the 60s and 70s in the US, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe?

How should an administrator participate in change, How should an administra...

How should an administrator participate in institutional change in regards to the call to protect versus the call to respond?

What are some economic factors of batista''s government, What are some econ...

What are some economic factors of Batista's Government that were significant the 1959 revolution ? Like Foregin-policies, laws, Acts, Corruption... ete. But this has to be in a bul

Which had a greater impact on american life explain, Which had a greater im...

Which had a greater impact on American life: the automobile or the movies? In more specific terms, compare the historical contributions of Henry Ford and Clara Bow.

Replaced the standard of presumed reasonableness, In the context of World W...

In the context of World War I, the Supreme Court replaced the standard of presumed reasonableness with the clear and present danger standard. declared speech cannot be a crimina

Humanaities, Explain how your selected event was an expression of what you ...

Explain how your selected event was an expression of what you know about the humanities, art, style, genius, and culture of the time period it represents.

European union is affecting the countries of europe, Discuss the ways that ...

Discuss the ways that the European Union is affecting the countries of Europe. In your discussion, explain: -what is the European Union, -what is its purpose, -how are the count

Interaction between state and federal governments, Which statement is true?...

Which statement is true? a. The framers did not expect much interaction between the state and federal governments. b. One of the strengths of the Constitution is its lack of ambigu

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