8th Grade Notes

Here are the notes from Section 3 & 4 from Chapter 8. Expect a quiz tomorrow over this material.

Changing the Constitution
&
State & Local Government
Sections 3 & 4
Changing the Constitution
• Amendment Process
– Complex process that takes months or even years
– Can be ratified- approved 2 ways
• 3/4Th's of state Legislatures must approve it
– Every Amendment but 21st happened this way
• By special convention, approved by 3/4Th's of states
• Bill of Rights
– 1) Protects Basic Individual Liberties
• Freedom of religion, speech and press
– 2-4) Protect Against Abuse of Power
– 5-8) Protect Rights of the Accused
– 9) Citizen’s rights are not limited to the ones listed in Constitution
– 10) All powers not given to the national government or denied to the states are reserved for the states or the people
• Later Amendments
– 13-15) Civil War Amendments
• Dealt directly with slavery and the treatment and rights of African Americans
– 19) Gave women right to vote
26) Lowered voting age from 21 to 18
State and Local Government
• State Constitutions
– Every state has its own Constitution
– Follow the framework of Federal Constitution
• Preamble
• 3 Branch System
• Amendments-approved by people through a vote- 2 ways
• Constitutional Initiative- signatures on a petition
Constitutional Convention- still needs votes
• States Provide Services
– Maintain Law and Order
– Supervise Public Education
– Public Health and Welfare Programs
– Build and Maintain Infrastructure
• Ex. Roads, Bridges, Tunnels
– Operate State Parks
– Regulate Use of State Owned Land
– Issue Drivers License
• Local Government
– Government on the County, Parish, City or Town, or Village level
– This government has the greatest impact on your every day life
– Perform all the same functions as a state government on a smaller scale