Explain in detail the two ways the Constitution can be amended and provide an example of why the Constitution would need to be amended.
Please feel free to use the sentence structure below!
The Constitution can be amended in two ways. The first way is_____________. The second way is_____________ An example of why the Constitution would need to be amended is______________.
The Constitution can be amended in two ways. The first way is through a formal amendment process, which involves specific steps outlined in Article V of the Constitution. This process requires a proposed amendment to be approved by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Then, the amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, either through approval by state legislatures or state conventions. This method has historically been the most common way to amend the Constitution.
The second way to amend the Constitution is through judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court. This method does not involve a formal amendment process, but rather relies on the Court's power of judicial review to interpret the Constitution in a way that changes its meaning or scope. Through landmark decisions, such as Brown v. Board of Education or Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court has effectively amended the Constitution by establishing new legal principles or overturning previous interpretations.
An example of why the Constitution would need to be amended is the 19th amendment, which was ratified in 1920. Prior to this amendment, women did not have the right to vote in the United States. The push for women's suffrage gained significant momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as women argued for equal political representation. The 19th amendment was necessary to ensure that gender could no longer be used as a basis for denying voting rights. Therefore, through the formal amendment process, the Constitution was amended to recognize and protect the right to vote for all women citizens.