A MEN D IN G T H E

CONST I T U T IO N
INSTRUCTOR: MR. ROE
INTRODUCTION
• “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION, ESTABLISH
JUSTICE, INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE, PROMOTE THE GENERAL
WELFARE, AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY, DO ORDAIN AND
ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
• UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

• *WITH YOUR PEER, DISCUSS THE MEANING OF EACH PREAMBLE

AN ENDURING DOCUMENT
• THE CONSTITUTION ORIGINATED IN 1787
• CHANGED THROUGH 2 WAYS:
• 1. FORMAL AMENDMENT
• TWO METHODS OF PROPOSAL
• TWO METHODS OF RATIFICATION

• 2. INFORMAL MEANS (MORE DETAIL IN SLIDE 10)

• FORMAL AMENDMENT: CHANGE OR ADDITION THAT BECOMES PART OF THE WRITTEN LANGUAGE OF THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF
THROUGH ONE OF FOUR METHODS SET FORTH IN THE CONSTITUTION

• RATIFICATION: FORMAL APPROVAL OR FINAL CONSENT TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CONSTITUTION, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT,
OR TREATY
METHODS OF FORMAL AMENDMENT
• 1. AN AMENDMENT MAY BE PROPOSED BY 2/3 VOTE IN EACH HOUSE OF CONGRESS AND RATIFIED BY 3/4 OF
THE STATE LEGISLATURES

• 2. AN AMENDMENT MAY BE PROPOSED BY CONGRESS AND RATIFIED BY CONVENTIONS

• EX: 21 ST AMENDMENT – ENDED THE PROHIBITION ERA

• 3. AN AMENDMENT MAY BE PROPOSED BY A NATIONAL CONVENTION, CALLED BY CONGRESS AT THE REQUEST

2/3 OF THE STATE LEGISLATURES

• 4. AN AMENDMENT MAY BE PROPOSED BY A NATIONAL CONVENTION AND THEN RATIFIED BY CONVENTIONS IN

3/4 OF THE STATES
Can you explain what is happening in this visual display of formal amendment process?
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT
• 12,000 JOINT RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN CONGRESS SINCE
1789

• ONLY 33 HAVE BEEN SENT ON TO THE STATES

• ONLY 27 HAVE BEEN RATIFIED
• AMENDMENT: A CHANGE IN, OR ADDITION TO A CONSTITUTION OR LAW
BREAK

• ALL CLEAR?
 Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments

THE BILL OF RIGHTS

What conclusions can you draw from
watching/listening to the first ten
amendments?
THE LATER AMENDMENTS
Based on what you know, were the
• 13 TH , 14TH, 15TH AMENDMENTS (POST CIVIL WAR) post Civil War amendments
effective right away? Explain
• NO SLAVERY
• NO STATE SHALL DEPRIVE ANY PERSON OF LIFE, LIBERTY, OR PROPERTY, WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW
• PROHIBITS DENYING THE VOTE BASED ON A CITIZEN’S RACE, COLOR, OR PREVIOUS CONDITION OF SERVITUDE –
FREED SLAVES HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE

• 19 TH AMENDMENT – WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE

• 22 ND AMENDMENT – PRESIDENT SERVES TWO TERMS

• 26 TH AMENDMENT – VOTING AGE IS 18

CHANGE BY OTHER MEANS
• 1. PASSAGE OF BASIC LEGISLATION BY CONGRESS
• EX: CONGRESS USING ITS CONGRESSIONAL POWERS
• 2. ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT Executive Agreement: the president
• 3. KEY DECISIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT directly meets with the head of a foreign
• EX: INTERPRETING THE CONSTITUTION THROUGH SUPREME COURT CASES state
• 4. ACTIVITIES OF POLITICAL PARTIES
• EX: THE NATION GOVERNED THROUGH THE PARTY IN OFFICE
• 5. CUSTOM AND USAGE
• EX: IF A PRESIDENT DIES DURING OFFICE, POWERS AND ROLE OF PRESIDENCY WILL BE DICTATED TO THE VICE PRESIDENT
BREAK

• ALL CLEAR?
CONCLUSION

• PURPOSE: AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION HAS GONE THROUGH LITTLE CHANGE BECAUSE IT SUITED THE
NEEDS OF THE CURRENT TIME PERIOD UNTIL IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE
PROCESS OF CHANGE IS BALANCED BETWEEN THE STATES

• ASSIGNMENT: SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU LEARNED DURING THE LECTURE PRESENTATION AND EXPLAIN ONE
OF THE WAYS THE CONSTITUTION CAN CHANGE AND APPLY WHY YOU THINK THIS IS THE BETTER
PROCESS