Constitutional Interpretation
The Founders recognized humans' desire for freedom and their capacity to govern, but they also had clear understand of humans' tendency to
sin
George Washington's self imposed two term limit on his presidenency is not in the Constitution, but it set a
Precedent
What process in the Constitution can meet the changing needs of the people?
Amendment process
Definition: The government does not have absolute power, but rather is limited to those powers that the people have given it
Limited government
Definition: The division of power between national and state levels of government
Federalism
In regards to how the Founders wrote the Constitution to be more like a _____, rather than a detailed manual.
framework/guide
Congress puts the Constitution into practice by establishing executive agencies, establishing lower courts, creating the national budget, and its main purpose of
Writing laws
The two major phases of the amendment process
Proposal and Ratification
Definition: To prevent any one group or individual from gaining too much control, the Founders separated the federal level into 3 branches
Separation of Powers
The Age of Enlightenment emphasized the idea of _________ __________, that the people are the ultimate source of their government's authority.
Popular Sovereignty
The more flexible way of interpreting the Constitution.
Broad constructionalists
In regards to congress what clause gives them the authority to complete its tasks?
Necessary and proper clause
States holding a _________ ____________ can propose an amendment at the request of 2/3 the states.
National convention
In conjuction to separation of powers, this reenforces the notion by thwarting one branch gaining too much power.
Checks and balances
The purpose of ________ ________ means that the courts can strike down laws passed from Congress and and actions taken by the President as unconstitutional
Judicial review
Even though we do not have a specific right to privacy, it is ___________ through the 3rd and 4th Amendment.
Implied
The President may also ______ _________ that are not specifically given and thus expand the Constitution's meaning and power of the office.
assume powers
During the ratification process of adopting an amendment, how many state legislatures (or states in a states convention) are required to ratify an amendment?
38 (or 3/4)
Determines the number of Supreme Court justices
Legislative branch
Because of checks and balances, sometimes the process can go into a ________ by political stalemate.
Gridlock, or deadlock
Because of the broad writing of the Article II, Section 3, "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed" The U.S. now has a vast federal
bureaucracy
Prior to 1841, when a President died, the vice-president assumed the responsibilities of the office, not the office itself. Who changed this by expanding the vice-presidents powers to actually become the president?
John Tyler
He was William H. Harrison's VP. Harrison died in office and Tyler refused to accept the title of acting president
Congress has typically given an amendment a ___ year time frame in which it must be ratified, or it will expire.
7
Who can call for a special session of Congress
President (Executive Branch)
This seminal Supreme Court case establishes the courts authority to review cases before it and strike down laws and actions is
Marbury v. Madison (1803).