Post on 31-Dec-2015
transcript
Constitutional Law
Unit IIChapter 36 - 42
Introduction to Constitutional Law
Chapter 36
Background
• The Constitution:– Establishes the framework
of our government (Articles I – VII)
– Acts as the supreme law of the land
– Guarantees certain basic rights
– Endures through the amendment process
Background
• Protections– Constitutional Protections
• Fundamental protections that cannot be denied and are very difficult to change
– Statutory Protections (i.e. Laws) • Represent the collective wisdom of the
majority• Can be amended or repealed by legislatures
• Interpretations– Strict constructionist– Loose constructionist
ConstitutionalAmendments
EITHER …PROPOSED by 2/3 vote in BOTH Houses of
Congress
Or…PROPOSED by a national convention called by
Congress at the request of 2/3 of the states
RATIFIED by the legislatures of 3/4 of the states
RATIFIED by conventions in 3/4 of the states (Constitution
originally ratified by conventions)
PROPOSAL STAGE RATIFY STAGE
Used 26 times
Used 1 time (21st Amend)
NEVER used
Amendments to the Constitution
• What are they? – Make a crib sheet
• Some interesting failed Amendments
• What is important to you?– Handout
Constitutional Law Principles
• The rights guaranteed in the Constitution are not absolute – Balancing test
• The Constitution protects citizens from actions by the government
• Enforcing one’s rights is time consuming and expensive
• Constitutional Floor – no level of gov’t can take away rights.
• However, governments can grant greater rights
Quiz Ch. 36
1. The __________ is the framework of American government, establishing the branches of government and basic rights.a. Magna Cartab. Declaration of Independencec. Constitutiond. Federalist Papers
Quiz Ch. 36
2. The Constitution can be changed __________.a. by order of the presidentb. in no wayc. by two different amendment processesd. by one amendment process
Quiz Ch. 36
3. __________ individual rights were included in the original Constitution.a. Nob. A fewc. Manyd. All
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4. The Bill of Rights was added in 1791 to protect Americans against the overuse of power by the __________.a. federal governmentb. federal and state governmentsc. executive branchd. large business owners
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5. Through interpretations of the Fourteenth Amendment, __________ protections in the Bill of Rights apply to state and local government.a. allb. mostc. nod. a few
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6. Rights guaranteed in the Constitution __________.a. are absoluteb. cannot by their nature conflict with other rightsc. may be limited when they conflict with other rightsd. are guidelines which the government may observe if
they don't conflict with government policy
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7. An example of a test used by the courts to determine how a freedom of speech case should be decided is __________.a. someone yells "Fire!" in a crowded theaterb. considering that Congress is forbidden to make laws
abridging the freedom of speechc. balancing the danger to the public against the benefit
to an individual making the speechd. the percentage of people willing to accommodate that
right in society
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8. The Constitution protects individuals from certain actions by __________.a. private citizensb. businessesc. organizationsd. the government
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9. If your mother entered your locked bedroom and removed your diary and read it, she would have violated __________ rights under the Constitution.a. privacyb. privacy and free speechc. free speechd. none of your
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10. When your rights have been violated, you should __________.a. get a lawyer to sueb. consider whether to enforce your rights since it can be
costly and time-consumingc. file a complaint with the civil liberties organizationd. accept it as the price to pay for living in a democracy