1. Warmup

2. Review Ch. 3 Sec. 3 Informal Amendment
The process by which many changes have been made in the Constitution that have not led to changes in the document’s written words
5 methods:
Basic legislation
Executive action
Court decisions
Party practices
Custom

3. 1. Basic legislation Many laws Congress passes change the Constitution
Congress has added to the Constitution by how it uses its powers
Federal Court System
Commerce Clause

4. 2. Executive Action
The manner in which Presidents use their power modifies the Constitution
War Powers
Executive Agreements

5. 3. Court Decisions
The nation’s courts change the Constitution when they interpret and apply it for cases
Marbury v. Madison

6. 4. Party Practices
The Constitution makes no mention of political parties
But our government is government by party
Nominating candidates
The Electoral College

7. 5. Custom Unwritten customs can be as strong as written laws
The Cabinet
Order of succession
Term of the Presidency

8. Lecture Ch. 4 Federalism

9. Federalism defined Federalism
A system of government in which power is divided up between a central government and many smaller governments
Supremacy Clause
The Constitution is the highest (most supreme) law of the land
US Constitution
US Government
State Constitutions
State Governments
Local/City Governments

10. Powers of the National Government

11. The Division of Powers National Government Both State Government
Delegated Powers
-Regulate interstate and foreign trade
-Borrow and coin money
Declare war and make peace
Concurrent Powers
-Collect taxes
-Borrow money
Make and enforce laws
Reserved Powers
-Establish local governments
-Conduct elections
-Set up public schools
Ratify amendments
Powers denied national gov.
-tax exports
-abridge the Bill of Rights
Powers denied both
-Deny due process of law
-Grant title of nobility
Powers denied state gov.
-Coin money
-Make treaties
-Tax imports or exports

12. Nation’s obligations Cooperative federalism
-Parent/child relationship where states are aided and guided by national gov.
Protection against invasion and domestic violence
Federal grants-in-aid
Block grants
Revenue sharing

13. Interstate Relations Interstate Compacts Full faith and credit
Agreements between states
Full faith and credit
States must honor one another’s licenses/laws
Extradition
The process of obtaining criminal’s from one state to the next
Privileges and Immunities
No state may draw unreasonable distinctions between its own residents and those of other States