Questions2

1)    Why has the Constitution been able to informally change?  Give some examples.

The Constitution has been able to informally change because it has very general language and the people in government that fill in the government. It also does not state exactly what can and cannot be done, such as child labor laws and radio or television standards.

2)    How has Congress expanded the executive branch? 

Congress has expanded the executive branch by making it so that over time they can add new courts to help control.

3)    What is the impeachment process?  What crimes can a President be impeached for? 

The impeachment process is that the House of Representatives can suggest someone and then the Senate can investigate and potentially impeach the suggested official. Crimes that the President can be impeached for are treason, bribery, other high crimes or misdemeanors, and it violates constitutional responsibility or it implies clear neglect of duty.

4)    Discuss John Tyler's Presidency.  How did he interpret the Constitution?  What is the other view of this interpretation?

John Tyler succeeded William Henry who was the first President to die in office. John Tyler took the oath of office and was never successfully challenged as president. He interpreted the Constitution, as he was to become president since Henry died. The other view is that he was to only act as president until the next election.

5)    What is an executive agreement?  How has it expanded the powers of the President?

An executive agreement is a direct agreement made between the president and the head of state of another country and it doesn’t require the Senates approval. It has expanded the powers of the President by making it so that the President has the most power in foreign affairs.

6)    Discuss the two views of Judicial Review.

Judicial restraint says that the court should not take initiative on social and political questions. Judicial activism says that courts should play an active role in shaping new policies.

7)    Give an example of how the Supreme Court has ruled the Constitution meaning one thing and then later changing its mind.

An example of how the Supreme Court has changed its mind is in 1896 they ruled that separate African-American facilities were Constitutional as long as they were equal to white ones. In 1954 they reviewed that and denied that separate facilities were constitutional whether they were equal or not.

8)    State the four sources of informal constitutional change.

Unofficial customs from the time periods, Presidential actions, federal courts, and Congressional actions.

9)    How could judicial activism infringe on powers given Congress in the Constitution.

Judicial activism could infringe on the powers because it could go against Constitutional practices.