Unit 2

The Constitution and The Formal Amendment Process

Popular Sovereignty:                 The people are the only source of governmental power

Limited Government:                 The government is not all powerful, it may do only those

                                                Things the people have given it the power to do

Constitutionalism:                      Gov’t must be conducted according to Const. principles

Rule of law:                              Government and its officers are never above the law

Separation of Powers:               Governmental power is distributed evenly among 3 branches

Checks and Balances:               Each branch is subject to constitutional restraints by other branches

Judicial Review:                        Judicial power to decide if what the government does is in accordance with the Constitution

Unconstitutional:                       To declare, illegal, null, and void

Federalism:                               Division of power among central government an several regional governments

Formal Amendments

Formal Amendment:

Method 1                    26 of 27 done in this manner

                                    Proposed by 2/3 vote in both houses only by Congress

                                    Adopted by ¾ or 38 State legislatures

Method 2                     1 of 27 done in this manner

                                    Proposed by 2/3 of Congress

                                    Adopted by ¾ States in State conventions

Method 3                    Proposed by national convention

                                    Adopted by ¾ State legislatures

Method 4                     Proposed by national convention

                                    Adopted by ¾ State conventions