3
C H A P T E R
The Constitution
SECTION 1
THE SIX BASIC PRINCIPLES
TEXT SUMMARY
The Constitution originally consisted of a
Preamble, or introduction, and seven
sections called articles. The Framers
developed the Preamble and articles
around the six broad ideas, or
T H E BIG I D E A
principles, described below.
Popular sovereignty is the
The Constitution is
idea that the people are the
based on six broad
source of all power held by the
principles: popular
government.
sovereignty, limited
Limited government means
government, sepathat the government possesses
ration of powers,
only the powers the people give
checks and balances,
it—it must obey the Constijudicial review, and
tution. This principle is also
federalism.
known as constitutionalism.
Government officials are subject
to the rule of law—they must always
obey the law and are never above it.
Separation of powers establishes
three separate parts, or branches, that
share the government’s power. These
branches are the executive, the legislative,
and the judicial.
The Constitution uses a system of
checks and balances to ensure that
none of the three branches can become
too powerful. Each branch has ways to
limit the power of the other two. An
example of this principle is the power of
the President to veto, or reject, any act of
Congress. Congress may then override a
veto with a two-thirds vote in each house.
Judicial review is the power of the
courts to decide what the Constitution
means. The courts also have the power to
declare a government action to be against
the Constitution, or unconstitutional.
Lastly, the Framers used the principle
of federalism to divide power between
the central government and the States.
GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Six Constitutional Principles
Popular
Sovereignty
Separation
of Powers
Limited
Government
Principles of the
U.S. Constitution
Judicial
Review
Checks and
Balances
Federalism
The Constitution and the government of the United States are based on these six ideas.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Explain the principle of federalism.
24
CHAPTER 3
Guide to the Essentials
2. Diagram Skills Which principle
divides the government into three
branches?
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SECTION 2
FORMAL AMENDMENT
TEXT SUMMARY
The Constitution has lasted more than
200 years because it has changed with
the times. Many of its words and their
meanings are the same, but some words
have been changed, eliminated, or
added—and some of the meanings have
been modified as well. The alterations to
the Constitution have occurred in two
ways: either through formal or informal
amendments, or changes.
A formal amendment is a change to
the Constitution’s written words. The
Framers created four ways to make such
changes. (See the Graphic Summary.) The
Framers followed the principle of federalism in creating these methods. First,
amendments are proposed, or suggested,
at a national level—either by Congress or
at a national convention. Then they are
ratified at the State level—either in the
State legislatures or by State conT H E BIG I D E A
ventions. Method 1 has been
used for all but one of the 27
The Framers of the
amendments.
Constitution preThe first ten amendments are
pared for changing
the Bill of Rights. Congress
times by providing
proposed all of them in 1789
for the document’s
because many people refused to
formal amendment.
support the Constitution unless
the Federal Government protected these basic rights. The States
approved these ten amendments in 1791.
The other 17 amendments became part of
the Constitution one at a time.
GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Methods of Formal Amendment
Method 1
Method 3
Congress Proposes
Congress Proposes
State Legislatures
Ratify
State Conventions
Ratify
National Convention
Proposes
National Convention
Proposes
State Legislatures
Ratify
State Conventions
Ratify
Method 2
Method 4
Each of the methods of formally amending the Constitution is based on the principle of federalism.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What is a formal amendment
to the Constitution?
© Prentice-Hall, Inc.
2. Diagram Skills Which two bodies may ratify formal amendments
to the Constitution?
Guide to the Essentials
CHAPTER 3
25
SECTION 3
INFORMAL AMENDMENT
TEXT SUMMARY
Many informal amendments to the
Constitution have been made since 1787.
Unlike formal amendments, these have
not changed the Constitution’s actual
words. These changes have come from
five sources.
1. Congress has made changes to the
Constitution through two kinds of basic
legislation. First, it has passed laws that
fill in details about the specific
T H E BIG I D E A
ways the government operates.
Second, it has passed thousands
Many changes to
of laws that explain certain parts
the Constitution
of the Constitution.
have been made
2. The way Presidents have
by informal
used their powers has produced
amendment.
some informal amendments. For
example, a President may
choose to make an executive agreement, or pact, with the head of another
country instead of a treaty, or a formal
agreement between two sovereign countries that requires congressional approval.
3. The courts, especially the U.S.
Supreme Court, have informally changed
the Constitution by explaining parts of it
when ruling on cases. They also decide if
government actions are constitutional.
4. Political parties have informally
shaped what the government does. For
example, the parties have decreased the
importance of the electoral college, the
group that formally selects the nation’s
President.
5. Customs are the usual ways people
do things. Many customs have developed
in American government that are not
mentioned in the Constitution. For example, the President’s Cabinet, or advisory
body, is customarily made up of the heads
of executive departments and other officers. Senatorial courtesy is a custom 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.
GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Sources of Informal Amendment
to the Constitution
Basic Legislation
Executive Action
Court Decisions
Party Practices
Customs
The Constitution has been changed many times by informal amendments.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What is an informal amendment to
the Constitution?
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CHAPTER 3
Guide to the Essentials
2. Diagram Skills Name two governmental bodies that may make
informal amendments.
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