How has Congress clarified the meaning of the Constitution? –
by vetoing amendments
. – by passing laws to help explain it. – with its power of judicial review. – by rejecting high court judges.
How has Congress changed the Constitution?
Article V of the Constitution provides two ways to propose amendments to the document. Amendments may be proposed either by the Congress, through a
joint resolution passed by a two-thirds vote
, or by a convention called by Congress in response to applications from two-thirds of the state legislatures.
Can Congress interpret the Constitution?
Congress makes laws, but
the Courts interpret them
. The Supreme Court decides if a law fits the meaning of the Constitution. … The court applies the rules of the Constitution to the nation's business. Congress can pass “necessary and proper laws.” But what is necessary?
How has our understanding of the Constitution changed over time?
Through amendments and legal rulings
, the Constitution has transformed in some critical ways. … Since the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791, Congress has passed just 23 additional amendments to the Constitution
How was the Constitution organized?
The Constitution is organized into three
parts
. The first part, the Preamble, describes the purpose of the document and the Federal Government. … The third part, the Amendments, lists changes to the Constitution; the first 10 are called the Bill of Rights. The Constitution established a Federal democratic republic.
Can Congress overrule the Supreme Court?
When the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court. However, when the Court interprets a statute, new legislative action can be taken.
The Constitution provides Congress not only enumerated powers, but also the ability to pass laws to make such powers effective. … The Court then went on to note that in such cases “
Congress was acting well within its authority to ‘make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper
‘ to ‘regulate Commerce …
What problems did the Constitution have?
A central issue at the Convention was
whether the federal government or the states would have more power
. Many delegates believed that the federal government should be able to overrule state laws, but others feared that a strong federal government would oppress their citizens.
What is the purpose of the Constitution?
The Constitution has three main functions. First it
creates a national government consisting of a legislative, an executive, and a judicial branch
, with a system of checks and balances among the three branches. Second, it divides power between the federal government and the states.
How does the Constitution help us today?
The Constitution plays a very important role in our society today. …
The Constitution explains how our government works, when elections are to be held
, and lists some of the rights we have. The Constitution explains what each branch of government can do, and how each branch can control the other branches.
What are the five main points of the Constitution?
The main points of the US Constitution, according to the National Archives and Records Administration, are
popular sovereignty
Who organized the Constitution?
Many of the United States Founding Fathers were at the Constitutional Convention, where the Constitution was hammered out and ratified. George Washington, for example, presided over the Convention.
James Madison
, also present, wrote the document that formed the model for the Constitution.
Who wrote the Constitution?
James Madison
is known as the Father of the Constitution because of his pivotal role in the document's drafting as well as its ratification. Madison also drafted the first 10 amendments — the Bill of Rights.
What power does Congress have over the Supreme Court?
The Constitution also grants Congress
the power to establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court
, and to that end Congress has established the United States district courts, which try most federal cases, and 13 United States courts of appeals, which review appealed district court cases.
Why is Congress the most powerful branch?
The most important power of Congress is
its legislative authority; with its ability to pass laws in areas of national policy
. The laws that Congress creates are called statutory law. Most of the laws which are passed down by Congress apply to the public, and on some cases private laws.
What the Constitution says about the Supreme Court?
Article III, Section I
states that “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.” Although the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it permits Congress to decide how to organize it.
