SB 2016-074: Amend. to Art. 1, Sect. 6 of the Constit. (Passed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Okay, this passes with a bare majority of 6-2... Remember as a Constitutional Amendment this need 2/3rds vote (4 votes in the senate if you're keeping track at home kids).

The striking of the line in beginning of the text, could render prison terms unconstitutional.


Prison is a form of involuntary servitude.

Completely agree. This bill was not as well worded and cut out key parts of constitutional provisions that were there for a reason. I do hope the Senate helps put an end to it.

Always read the House debate thread.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I also agree with Truman on this point.

I went several rounds with Libertas in 2010 and Napoleon in 2011, over the issue and finally it ended up with a 2/3rds clause or something similar in the Third Constitution.

Perhaps Scott and PiT will recall those debates in 2011.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I realize that sending this amendment back to the House will likely kill it which is sad, but I think fixing the language is more important.

There is nothing I cannot find a work around for.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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     I am proposing this as an amendment, and we can propose more later if we want to. Does the sponsor accept the amendment as friendly?
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I would remind you that the "indentured servitude" that was being declared unconstitutional back in the day was either 1) forced as a means of paying off a debt, 2) Contractual. The (US) Founders sought to ban both. Replacing it with forced labor, would in my view legalize the latter. Also servitude can exist in forms other than labor, correct?