Informal Change

Assign each student a method of informal change and then have them create a public
service announcement describing that method of informal change and provide examples. Of
changes that have been brought forth by that method. (May have them present their
announcements to the class.)

1. Basic Legislation:
- Explain: Congress passing laws to further direct the indications made in the short
sentences within the Constitution. Beefs up the Constitution the original was more
of a skeletal outline of how they wanted things to go and a manner that would
ensure there could be changes and the document would be living as it is not set in
stone.
- Example: Congress adding to the now very large executive branch by adding offices
and cabinet positions that were not originally specified within the Constitution.

2. Executive Action:
- Explain: How a President can use their executive Presidential powers to grow the
Constitution and change factors of the constitution that were not previously there or
edit existing items of the Constitution.
- Example: An Executive order in which The President makes a law on his own
without passing it through that of the Legislature, is an executive agreement a pact
made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state.

3. Court Decisions:
- Explain: The court has the power of Judicial Review a power not given to them in the
Constitution but a power given to themselves which allows them to decide if a law
that has been passed in constitutional this allows the courts who are made up of
different people at different times to interpret the Constitution how they see fit
some may interpret it differently allowing them to rule one way and have it reversed
at a later date.
- Example: Marbury v. Madison id the court case in which the court system gained the
right to practice Judicial review. Court has flip flopped its ruling over the years in
relation to Separate but Equal, Gay marriage.

4. Party Practices:
- Explain: The parties because of their power and influence dictate a significant
amount of what happens in our political world. This being said they have developed
Constitutional requirements for themselves that never existed before as the
founding fathers Washington specifically was not in favor of political parties.
- Example: Neither the Constitution or any low stated that a nomination for the
candidacy of President need be made the two political parties have made this a
function to ensure they stay in power ever since 1830s when they started holding
 national conventions to nominate a candidate. This is important because it has made
the race for president a media frenzy that should be covered more so by ESPN

5. Custom
- Explain: Are practices that continue to happen or have added to the Constitution
because they have been longstanding practices and they affect the manner in which
we function within our government.
- Examples: Practices like Senatorial courtesy a unwritten rule that is closely followed
in the senate where the President appoints individuals that are approved by the
head member of that state senate. Or the Presidents cabinet in which there are 15
members that make up his advisory board.