Amending the Constitution
Essential Question: What are the
formal and informal ways in which
the Constitution can be amended?
The Formal Amendment Process:
The Informal Process of Constitutional Change
Changes through Law
• Congress passed
laws to expand its
authority
• Congress expanded
the Executive Branch
Changes through
Practices
• Interpretation of
Constitution has
changed over time:
what are high crimes
and misdemeanors?
The Informal Process of Constitutional Change
Informal Presidential Changes
• Presidential Succession: Is
the VP the “real”
President or a stand in?
• Executive agreements vs.
Treaties
• Requesting Legislation
Judicial Review
• Woodrow Wilson called
the Supreme Court “a
constitutional convention
in continuous session.”
• Judicial activism vs.
Judicial Restraint
Now reflect and answer…
Over time the meaning of the Constitution has been
changed by both formal and informal methods.
a. Explain two formal methods for adding
amendments to the Constitution.
b. Describe two informal methods that have been
used to change the meaning of the Constitution.
Provide one specific example for each informal
method you described.
c. Explain why you think informal methods are
used more often than the formal amendment
process.