What change to the Constitution would you like to see? Describe the three ways that the Constitution can be altered, and use examples
Which of these processes would provide the best avenue to make your proposal a reality? Be sure to explain how your idea would make its way through the process you select.
What will be an ideal response?
An ideal response will:
1, Identify formal amendment, judicial interpretation, and political practices as the three ways to alter the Constitution.
2, Explain that the formal amendment process was designed to be unwieldy. There are four routes to amending the Constitution and one should be selected and described if this is the chosen process. Equal rights amendment, same-sex marriage, and flag-burning amendments have failed. But several amendments expanding democracy have not: ending slavery, expanding the vote, and making selection of senators a direct vote.
3, Explain that the Supreme Court decided it had the right of judicial review. If this is the chosen process, it should be explained how the proposal might make its way to the Court. Mention two cases, Griswoldv.Connecticut and Roev. Wade, that established a right to privacy not mentioned in the Constitution.
4, Explain that political practices include political parties, primaries, and presidential conventions, none of which are mentioned in the Constitution. The powers of the presidency have expanded, for example, with the use of signing statements. These allow the president to change the meaning of a bill at the same time as signing it.
5, Select a process and explain how it is good fit for implementing the proposal.
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a. barometer of public attitudes theory b. catalyst-for-change theory c. interactive theory d. political socialization theory
The process by which California’s legislature shares lawmaking authority with the people is called
a. social equality. b. electoral votes. c. initiative. d. manifest destiny.