Final answer:
Changes to the Constitution and its interpretation have greatly influenced the functioning of the U.S. government over the past 200 years. Amendments and Supreme Court interpretations have expanded individual rights, shaped key decisions on civil rights and free speech, and altered the balance of power between the federal government and states.
Step-by-step explanation:
Changes to the Constitution and its interpretation have greatly influenced the functioning of the U.S. government over the past 200 years. One major change was the addition of amendments, such as the Bill of Rights, which expanded individual rights and placed limits on government power. The interpretation of these amendments by the Supreme Court has shaped important decisions on issues like civil rights, free speech, and privacy.
For example, the interpretation of the 1st Amendment's freedom of speech clause has evolved, leading to landmark cases like Schenck v. United States (1919) and Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), which set precedents for the limits and protections of free speech in different contexts.
Additionally, the constitutional amendment process itself has influenced the functioning of the government. The addition of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments after the Civil War, for instance, fundamentally changed the relationship between the federal government and the states, establishing equal protection under the law and extending voting rights to African Americans.
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