Chapter 3 Section 1                             

The Six Basic Principles

Terms to know

 

Preamble – The introduction to the Constitution of the United States

 

 

Articles – The seven numbered sections of the Constitution

 

Constitutionalism – government according to constitutional principles:

  • popular sovereignty
  • limited government
  • separation of powers
  • checks and balances
  • judicial review
  • federalism

 

Rule of law – holds that the government and its officers are always subject to ---never above--- the law

 

Separation of powers – division of powers between the state and federal government

 

Checks and balances – each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks (restraints) by the other branches

 

Veto – President can veto (reject) any act of Congress. In its turn, Congress can override any veto by a 2/3 vote by Congress, in each of the houses.

 

Judicial review – the power of the courts to decide determine whether what the government does is in accord with what the Constitution provides.  It is the power of the court to determine the constitutionality of a government.

 

Unconstitutional- to declare illegal, null and void, no force or effect

 

Federalism – the principle of the division of power among a central government and several regional governments

 

  1. What are the different roles of the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch?
  2. Why were the Framers of the Constitution careful to limit the powers of the Feral Government?

 

Chapter 3 Section 2  Notes                                                                  Government

 

Section Objective – To understand the processes of constitutional change and development by formal amendment

 

  1. Formal Amendment Process

 

    1. First – method – Amendment is proposed by Congress by a two-thirds vote in both houses, then ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures
    2. Second Method – Amendment is proposed by Congress by a two-thirds vote in both houses, and then ratified by special convention in three-fourths of the States.
    3. Third Method – Amendment is proposed at a national convention when requested by a two-thirds if the State legislatures, then ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.
    4. Fourth Method – Amendment is proposed at a national convention called by Congress when requested by two-thirds of State legislatures, then ratifies by special conventions held in three-fourths of the states.

 

  1. The 27 Amendments

 

    1. The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights because they set out the great constitutional guarantees of freedoms for the American people.
    2. The Civil War Amendment 13th, 14th, 15th, combined to end slavery, define American citizenship, proclaim the rights of due process and equal protection under the law, and outlaw restrictions on the right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude.
    3. Other amendments further define the workings of government, empower the governments in certain ways, or deal with important social issues.

 

Questions:

  1. What are the two steps involved in the first method of amending the constitution?

 

A.

B.

 

  1. What are the two steps involved in the second method of amending the Constitution?

 

A. 

B.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. What are the two steps involved in the third method of amending the Constitution?

 

A.

B.

 

 

4.  What are the two steps involved in the fourth method of amending the Constitution?

 

 

A.

B.

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewing terms:

 

Amendment –

 

 

Formal amendment-

 

 

Bill of Rights –

 

 

Chapter 3 sections 3 Notes                               Government

 

Section Objective – To understand the process of constitutional change and development by informal amendment

 

  1. Basic Legislation
    1. Congress can pass laws that spell out some of the Constitution’s brief provisions.
    2. Congress can pass laws defining and interpreting the meaning of constitutional provisions

 

  1. Executive Action
    1. Presidents have used their powers to delineate unclear constitutional provisions, for example, making a difference between Congress’s power to declare was and the President’s power to wage war.
    2. Presidents have extended the authority over foreign policy by making informal executive agreements with representatives of foreign governments, avoiding the constitutional requirement for the Senate to approve formal treaties.

 

  1. Court Decisions
    1. The nation’s courts interpret and apply the Constitution as they see fit, as in Marbury v. Madison.
    2. The Supreme Court has been called “a constitutional convention in a continuous session”

 

  1. Party Practices
    1. Political parties have been a major source of informal amendment.
    2. Political parties have shaped government and its processes by holding political conventions, organizing Congress along party lines, and injecting politics in the process of presidential appointments.

 

  1. Custom
    1. Each branch of government had developed traditions that fall outside the    provisions of the Constitution.
    2. An example is the executive advisory body known as the President’s cabinet.

 

 

 

 

 

 






































































 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


























































 
 
Texts Used:
World History Patterns of Interaction, McDougal Littell
American Government, William A. McClenaghan
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