Describe a way in which custom has enlarged the Constitution of the United States
2006-10-15 14:40:54 · 3 answers · asked by HNY 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The Constitution may not be enlarged by custom. Its provisions may only be altered by an Amendment.
Certain provisions of the Constitution might be ignored, at times, but ignoring those provisions does not alter the Constitution.
For example, the Constitution invests all legislative authority in the Congress. However, our current President follows the "custom" of creating "signing statements" which interpret the provisions of bills brought before him for signature, or which define the parts of those bills which he declares worthy of enforcement and the parts which he declares unworthy of enforcement. This usurpation of legislative authority is a transgression against the Constitution. Although the President has not yet been impeached as a result of his exercise of this "custom", he has not "enlarged" the Constitution. He has merely assaulted it.
2006-10-16 11:46:28 · answer #1 · answered by Larry Powers 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Customs don't affect the Constitution at all. Customs affect the political method of government.
2006-10-15 21:57:12 · answer #2 · answered by az helpful scholar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
amendments make it longer, duh
2006-10-15 21:47:49 · answer #3 · answered by burnsielaxplayer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋