Lesson Summary: Amending the Constitution

What is a formal amendment?

• A change to the Constitution’s written words

• A change to the Constitution’s meaning without changing the words

• A law passed by Congress

• A proposal rejected by the States

How many amendments have been added to the Constitution using the first method described? Fill in the blank: All but one of the ____ amendments have been added using the first method.

• 27

• 25

• 20

• 15

The principle of federalism as it applies to the formal amendment process is demonstrated by which of the following?

• Both the national and state governments are involved in proposing and ratifying amendments.

• Only the national government can propose and ratify amendments.

• Only state governments can propose and ratify amendments.

• The President has the sole authority to amend the Constitution.

Instructions: Answer the following questions based on the passage 'Lesson Summary: Amending the Constitution.'

4. True or False: Informal amendments have changed the actual words of the Constitution.

• True

• False

According to the passage, two ways Congress has made changes to the Constitution through basic legislation are:

• By passing laws that clarify the Constitution and by adding new details to its provisions.

• By amending the Bill of Rights and by vetoing Supreme Court decisions.

• By holding national referendums and by issuing executive orders.

• By appointing new justices and by dissolving state governments.

What is an executive agreement?

• A formal agreement between two sovereign states that requires Senate approval

• A pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state that does not require Senate consent

• A group of persons who select the President

• An unwritten rule in the Senate

Define the term 'senatorial courtesy' as used in the passage.

• An unwritten rule in which the Senate will not approve a presidential appointment to serve in a State if the appointment is opposed by a senator from the President’s party.

• A formal agreement between senators to support each other's bills.

• A constitutional requirement for all presidential appointments to be approved unanimously by the Senate.

• A tradition where senators are given the first opportunity to nominate candidates for federal positions in their state.

How have political parties informally shaped the function of the electoral college?

• Political parties have decreased the importance of the electoral college, the group that formally selects the nation’s President.

• Political parties have eliminated the need for the electoral college by using popular vote only.

• Political parties have made the electoral college select the Vice President instead of the President.

• Political parties have made the electoral college a ceremonial body with no real power.

Explain how the U.S. Supreme Court can informally change the Constitution. Provide an example based on the passage.

• The U.S. Supreme Court can informally change the Constitution by interpreting its meaning in new ways through court decisions. For example, the Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education changed the interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause.

• The U.S. Supreme Court can informally change the Constitution by passing new amendments directly.

• The U.S. Supreme Court can informally change the Constitution by vetoing laws passed by Congress.

• The U.S. Supreme Court can informally change the Constitution by holding national referendums.

The impact of customs, such as the President’s Cabinet and senatorial courtesy, on the functioning of the U.S. government is significant because:

• They help the government operate smoothly even though they are not mentioned in the Constitution.

• They are required by law for all government decisions.

• They limit the power of the President more than the Constitution does.

• They are only symbolic and have no real effect on government operations.