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Separation of Powers. Checks and Balances: A Sample. Grade School Style. The Situation. Congress has been getting bashed all over the internet Solution: Create a bill that permits increased censorship on things said about government on Twitter, Facebook , etc.
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Checks and Balances:A Sample Grade School Style
The Situation • Congress has been getting bashed all over the internet • Solution: Create a bill that permits increased censorship on things said about government on Twitter, Facebook, etc. • Directions will follow in each group
Checks and Balances • What Checks and Balances were in play in this demonstration? • Who did the Legislative Branch check? How? • Who did the Executive Branch check? How? • Who did the Judicial Branch check? How?
The Amendment Process • Outlined in Article V of the Constitution • Amendment Proposal: • 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress • Legislatures in 2/3 of the states (34 of 50) can ask Congress to call for a national convention • Ratification of Amendments • ¾ of the states must approve (38 of 50) • Approved by state legislatures or state conventions
Amendments • Constitution amended a total of 27 times • If people do not like results of an amendment, they may repeal it • Example: 1933, 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment (Prohibition)
Constitutional changes without Amendments • Constitution is a broad outline for the governing • Changes can be made through tradition • Example: Presidential cabinet in executive branch • “Unwritten Constitution”
Interpreting the Constitution • Congressional laws • Example: Minimum Wage • Congress can control trade between states • Goods made by workers travel amongst states • Thus, Congress has power to pass laws about working conditions nationally • Always able to be overturned by Judicial Review • Congress can rewrite the law using the court’s objections as guidance