The Living Constitution

 

The Constitution is adaptable for many reasons:

 

The Elastic clause “Necessary and Proper”

 

     Loose Interpretation (Federalists)

     Strict Interpretation (Jeffersonian-Reps)

 

Amendments: which change the powers, scope, or meaning of the Constitution

 

     Amendments can be proposed by:

           A  2/3 vote of each house of Congress

                     OR

           A national convention called by

           Congress upon request of 2/3 of the

           states

 

     Amendments can be ratified by:

           The legislatures of 3/4 of the states

                     OR

           Special conventions called by 3/4 of

           the states

Supreme Court Interpretation:

     based on past rulings but can overturn

           itself in later rulings

 

 

The Unwritten Constitution: practices and traditions NOT specifically in the Constitution