Consitution

  The meaning of the U.S. Constitution has been tampered with over the last two centuries through both formal and informal methods.  In order to add amendments to the constitution, it must be considered and go through a formal method.  Proposal and ratification are just two examples of formal methods, in which an amendment must be passed by 2/3 vote in the House, and 3/4 vote by the state national convention.  From there it can be ratified by either 3/4 of the state special election or 3/4 of the state legislature.  On the other hand, informal methods are possible, and are used more often than the formal amendment process.  For example, the two party system was created by the people- no where in the Constitution does it say anything about this.  The Democratic and Republican system, formerly federalist and antifederalist, parties were created by citizens.  And as a result of being so opinionated, the electoral college votes reflect what the majority of a senators state wants rather than just what the senator himself wants. 
  Federalism is a way of organizing nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people.  And with that process comes power.  Categorical grants, for example, are extremely restricted and come with many terms and conditions by the federal government.  States no longer look to grants with a smile because of all the regulation and difficulty to apply them to what it is the state actually needs.  Federal mandates force state and local governments to comply with federal rules, and to set a budget for more funds for a project in order to receive more money. 
  And while the federal government may have more power over the states in some situations, it also works the other way with block grants and the tenth amendment.  Block grants are given to states or communities to support local programs such as community development and social services.  The percentage of federal aid to states has been increasing since 1995 when Republicans passed for more federal aid in the form of block grants.  But the most important power given to the states is the tenth amendment which states that " the powers not delegated to the United states by the Constitution...are reserved to the states...".  This is huge for the American people, and through the court cases trying to revise this amendment, the people have only made it stronger.  This amendment provides a sense of security for citizens, and lets them know that they do have rights, and the government is not a monarch over them.