Final answer:
Whether official documents need to be original or if copies are permitted varies by legal and institutional requirements. Birth, marriage, and death certificates usually need to be original, while other documents' acceptance depends on the policy of the requesting entity. The Constitution is amended formally through Article V and informally by judicial and social changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing official documents, certain situations require original versions due to the importance of authenticity, such as when presenting marriage, birth, and death certificates. However, some circumstances may allow for copies, though often they need to be certified true copies. Therefore, whether copies are permitted depends on the specific legal or policy requirements of the institution requesting the documents.
For instance, in educational settings, school policies may dictate whether original documents or copies are required for enrollment or other administrative purposes. Similarly, for issues like driving age and qualifications for licensure, state or local department of motor vehicles will have specific requirements. And when concerned with legal matters such as laws regarding theft and murder, official government-issued documents will often need to be original to ensure the integrity of the information.
As for the query on the Constitution, its guiding principles include the separation of powers, checks and balances, and the protection of individual rights. The Constitution can be formally amended through a process outlined in Article V, which requires proposal and ratification steps. It can also be informally amended through judicial interpretation, the passage of various laws, changes in societal norms, and executive action.