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Constitutional government may be set up under either a written
or an unwritten Constitution. An unwritten constitution. - An unwritten constitution consists largely of customs, precedents, conditions, and understandings, and is constantly changing; any party in power may enact legislation materially affecting the methods of government and the political rights of citizens. A written constitution. - In the United States the rights of the people are fully protected and the functions of government strictly defined in a written document - the Constitution. It is called a "rigid Constitution" because tho legislative power has no authority to change it. It is subject to amendment only by the authority and action of the people through their representatives in Congress. The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided * * * that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. - Constitution, Article V. |
