Section 2: Amending the Constitution

Essential Question:Explain why the framers establish ways

to amend the Constitution, list the methods for amending the Constitution, identify the causes and effects for each of the amendments that make up the Bill Of Rights

Section 2: Amending the Constitution

An imperfect documentThe authors of the Const. (framers) knew that they couldn’t anticipate future issues that the government might have to deal with.

They created a process known as “amendments” by which the constituion could be changed.

They did not want changes to be made easily, and wanted these changes to require the input of the entire country

Section 2: Amending the Constitution

Methods for amending the Constitution:

proposal of amendments by a two thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called by two thirds of the states

ratification of amendments by approval of three fourths of the state legislatures or by approval of special conventions in three fourths of the states

Section 2: Amending the Constitution

Visual Vocabulary assignment: BoRFor amendments TWO-EIGHT, please do the

following in YOUR NOTES (work with a partner):1.) Write the name of the amendment and copy the

Official Definition (pp.R39-R41)2.) Re-write the amendment in YOUR OWN WORDS3.) Draw a COLOR IMAGE/EMOJI (see example) for

each amendment

Section 2: Amending the Constitution

First AmendmentBOOK-Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Own: Freedom to say whatever you want (to a certain extent), choose whatever religion you want, publish any opinions in press or social media, and gather to protest in public

Section 2: Amending the Constitution

Ninth AmendmentSays that any rights not officially written in the

constitution are given to the people Example: Constitution does not say that people have

the right to not like asparagus, but because it DOES NOT say that people can’t like asparagus, they have the right to dislike it.

Section 2: Amending the Constitution

Tenth AmendmentSays that any rights not officially written in the

constitution are given to the StatesSimilar to the ninth, this amendment says that if the

constitution does not explicitly give or deny the states a right, then they have the right to decide for themselves

Section 2: Amending the Constitution

RT 3.2Pick the 5 amendments from the Bill of rights that

you feel are the most important (ie: can’t live without)Rank them in order from 1-5 with one being most

important and five being the least.For each of the five, write a sentence explaining why

it is more important than the ones beneath it.