Sometimes
the U.S. constitution
changes because society, judges,
and lawmakers, reinterpret it over time. This is an informal
amendment
process. Circumstantial changes--such as those that propelled
universal male suffrage--cause the constitution to change. Judicial
review--a somewhat controversial process of having the courts
decide if a law is constitutional--is
another major informal amendment process. It was established in the
case Marbury vs. Madison.
The United
States
Constitution can be changed informally. Informal amendments mean that
the Constitution does not specifically list these processes as forms
of amending the Constitution, but because of change in society or
judicial review changed the rule
of law de
facto. These methods depend on interpretations of what the
constitution says and on interpretive understanding of the underlying
intent. This type of change occurs in two major forms: through
circumstantial change and through judicial review.
