The flexibility
of the Constitution, doesn’t sound really interesting, does it? Well actually,
whenever you start to actually research this topic it is very intriguing. The
Constitution has been around since 1787, and is able to change throughout the
times. Women weren’t allowed to vote, and neither were people of African
descent, but the people didn’t want these rules anymore so they added
amendments to the Constitution to change the rights of these people during that
time period. Our Constitution allows us to do these kinds of things, thanks to
the formal amendment process, the informal amendment process, and the custom,
usage, and tradition of the Constitution.
Formal Amendment Process
The formal amendment process is actually pretty interesting. The only way to amend the Constitution is the formal way. Listed in the Constitution are 2 ways to propose an amendment, but only 1 way has ever been used. The only used way that has been used goes as follows:
1) A bill must be passed by 2/3’s vote in both legislative houses
2)The bill is then passed on to get voted on by the states
3)Congress sets a time limit of about 7 years for a bill to be chosen to become an amendment
As for the other way, it is made for a Constitutional Convention, but there was only 1, in 1787 before the Constitution was even created by our founding fathers. This way goes as follows:
1) A Constitutional Convention must be called by 2/3’s of the state legislatures
2) The Convention needs to propose 1 or more amendments
3) The amendments are then sent to the state legislatures to be approved by ¾’s majority.
All though this way has never been used, both ways require the amendment to be ratified by ¾’s of all of the states. This process of allowing the people to change the Constitution is one of the things that make America a great country, people have the right to add and change the Constitution which will assist the citizens as a whole.
Informal Amendment Process:
Despite its name, the informal amendment process is NOT the process of adding an amendment informally, as there is only 1 way to amend the Constitution. The informal amendment process actually means a way that the Constitution’s meaning is changed over time. There are 2 main ways that the interpretation of the Constitution changes, and hence it’s meaning. The 2 ways that the interpretation can change is that the circumstances can change, or the meaning changes through the judiciary.
Custom, Usage, and Tradition of the Constitution:
The term custom, usage, and tradition actually refers to the ways that different sections of the government react to new situations. The past ways of previous executives have limited
today’s administrations. Custom, usage, and tradition is also a term for actions
that have been used for so long that they have become accepted to practice.
For example, the relationship between the President and the Senate. Whenever George Washington was president, he asked the Senate for preparation in some treaties, which was never done before, but is now an accepted practice if a treaty was ever needed.
The Constitution is one of the most unique documents in American history, it has changed so much over the past 216 years. The Founding Fathers today would be in awe of how much this document has changed, as well as the citizens in which it protects. Just one document that can change over the course of centuries is only one of the things that makes America one of the greatest countries in the world today: the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
Formal Amendment Process
The formal amendment process is actually pretty interesting. The only way to amend the Constitution is the formal way. Listed in the Constitution are 2 ways to propose an amendment, but only 1 way has ever been used. The only used way that has been used goes as follows:
1) A bill must be passed by 2/3’s vote in both legislative houses
2)The bill is then passed on to get voted on by the states
3)Congress sets a time limit of about 7 years for a bill to be chosen to become an amendment
As for the other way, it is made for a Constitutional Convention, but there was only 1, in 1787 before the Constitution was even created by our founding fathers. This way goes as follows:
1) A Constitutional Convention must be called by 2/3’s of the state legislatures
2) The Convention needs to propose 1 or more amendments
3) The amendments are then sent to the state legislatures to be approved by ¾’s majority.
All though this way has never been used, both ways require the amendment to be ratified by ¾’s of all of the states. This process of allowing the people to change the Constitution is one of the things that make America a great country, people have the right to add and change the Constitution which will assist the citizens as a whole.
Informal Amendment Process:
Despite its name, the informal amendment process is NOT the process of adding an amendment informally, as there is only 1 way to amend the Constitution. The informal amendment process actually means a way that the Constitution’s meaning is changed over time. There are 2 main ways that the interpretation of the Constitution changes, and hence it’s meaning. The 2 ways that the interpretation can change is that the circumstances can change, or the meaning changes through the judiciary.
Custom, Usage, and Tradition of the Constitution:
The term custom, usage, and tradition actually refers to the ways that different sections of the government react to new situations. The past ways of previous executives have limited
today’s administrations. Custom, usage, and tradition is also a term for actions
that have been used for so long that they have become accepted to practice.
For example, the relationship between the President and the Senate. Whenever George Washington was president, he asked the Senate for preparation in some treaties, which was never done before, but is now an accepted practice if a treaty was ever needed.
The Constitution is one of the most unique documents in American history, it has changed so much over the past 216 years. The Founding Fathers today would be in awe of how much this document has changed, as well as the citizens in which it protects. Just one document that can change over the course of centuries is only one of the things that makes America one of the greatest countries in the world today: the land of the free, and the home of the brave.