Untitled Deck Flashcards
What is the nature of the US Constitution?
The US Constitution is codified into a single document.
Example: Article 2 outlines the President’s veto power, used by Biden 12 times during his presidency.
Explain: The Constitution consolidates government roles and powers in one document, ensuring clarity and a formal framework for governance.
How is the US Constitution entrenched?
The US Constitution is formally entrenched.
Example: Article 5 requires a 2/3 supermajority in Congress and ratification by ¾ of state legislatures or conventions. Over 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have been ratified.
Explain: The entrenched nature of the Constitution makes it intentionally difficult to amend, preserving stability and limiting frequent changes.
Where are rights formally entrenched in the US?
Rights in the US are formally entrenched in the Bill of Rights and later amendments.
Example: The 1st Amendment protects freedom of speech, extended in 2010 to include private companies’ political donations.
Explain: A strong culture of rights protection stems from the Constitution’s foundation, with the Supreme Court adapting these rights to contemporary contexts.
Why are amendments infrequent in the US?
Amendments are infrequent in the US due to the difficult process.
Example: Proposals for DC statehood have repeatedly failed due to polarization and the challenge of achieving the required supermajorities.
