You are viewing this site as a QCC student. Change
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.
Although amendments are the only way
to formally change the Constitution, changes in the government can
also happen in a less formal way, through a method called custom
and usage. This method refers to the development of new governmental
institutions and practices that appear in response to new political
needs. Although these new institutions are not mentioned in the Constitution,
changes in the government that happen through custom and usage are
considered constitutional. One example of change through custom and
usage is the development of political parties. Political parties,
such as the Democrat and Republican parties, are not mentioned in
the Constitution. They developed because of a political need, and
are an extremely important part of political life today.