E-Resource Center: Queensborough Community College: City University of NY
You are viewing this site as a QCC student. Change
Queensborough Community College City University of NY
Home Writing Tutorials Grammar Tutorials Course Tutorials CUNY Test Tutorials Major Advisement
Reading Your TextbookCriminal Justice 101 Sociology 101 Criminology
101 Course Tutorials
Government 101 Back to Exercise Menu

Framework of Government: Exercise 5 - Changing the U.S. Constitution and interpreting its meaning


Instructions: Read the passage and click on the correct answer. If wrong, try again. Scroll down if you do not see the Answer box.
Click here to review the key terms for this exercise.


     The U.S. Constitution outlines the structure of the government, and explains the principles and rules for how the American government should work. Written in 1787, it reflects the values and concerns of its writers—the founders of our country. However, the founders also understood that society changes over time, and the rules governing society need the flexibility to change, also. So, as part of the Constitution, they included ways to change and adapt it. In fact, the Constitution has commonly been called a "living document," a document that grows and changes.

     The only way the actual text of the Constitution can be changed is through amendments. An amendment is a formal addition (Art. V) to the U.S. Constitution. To add an amendment to the Constitution, first there must be a formal proposal (recommendation), usually introduced by Congress. Second, the amendment must be ratified (passed) by at least three fourths of the 50 states. There are two ways for states to ratify amendments—by state legislatures or state conventions (large formal meetings).

     Although thousands of constitutional amendments have been introduced in Congress since the Constitution was written, only 27 amendments have been ratified and added to the Constitution. The founders deliberately (on purpose) made amending the Constitution a difficult process. They wanted to make certain the basic principles and structure established in the Constitution would remain unchanged.

Site Credits | Site Map | Help | Center for English Language Learning

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education (Title V) and the
New York State Education Department (Perkins III)

Bookmark and Share