Amending the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The writers of the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania recognized that, from time to time, it would be appropriate
to change the rules. This process is called Amending the Constitution.
George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin were the principal authors
of the Commonwealth's constitution. They created, within the document,
a set of rules that govern the amending process.
There are several groups seeking to amend Pennsylvania's Constitution. They cite Article I Section II -
Your family has learned that your aunt and uncle are members of a nonpartisan group seeking to amend Pennsylvania's Constitution. They are calling for allowing Citizen's Initiative by Referendum. They argue that citizens will have greater say in their government. In the United States, the initiative is in use: at the level of state government, in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Citizens for U.S. Direct Initiatives |
1. Create an explanation of how to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution.
2. What is the role of the governor in the constitutional amendment process?
3. What was the issue resolved by the most recent amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution?
4. Use a table to organize: (I got you started)
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Compare the process for amending the Pennsylvania Constitution |
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Which process supports better government? Why?
Describe several ways that citizens can work positively to support the passage of an amendment to the Constitution.
What do you support?
Identify a current or recently proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution.
What is the status of the effort? Do you support the proposal? Explain.
OR
Should the people of Pennsylvania amend the Constitution to allow for citizen referendum? Support your answer.
OR
What is the process for amending the bylaws/constitution of your student government at school? Does this process give the students at-large a voice in this body of government?
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posted 8/2006 In the spirit of Thomas Paine - released to public domain by Cynthia J. O'Hora
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Aligned with the following Pa
Academic Standards - Reading, Writing Speaking, History, Civics and
Government, Mathematics, Civics, Science and Technology
Aligned with the National Standards for Civics and Government