One big problem is the eleventh-hour invention of the moderator, which changed the rules very much. Another problem is that clause in the Civil Liberties amendment. The thing has several highly problematic clauses, this being one of them. Its defects (some of them) were discussed but people agreed that it was on balance a good thing. Stuff in there should really have been voted on clause by clause, would have made for a far superior law. Also, bills used to get changed a lot between proposal and passage in the early days of the Senate, something bad's happened since. Basically the third Senate did much more work than its predecessors but also work of much inferior quality.
Making sure that the Central government doesn't usurp the powers delegated to the individual states isn't a defect. It is made to ensure that the powers of government remain constrained. Now people are immediately hoping to pass an amendment to the constitution to dilute the powers that are given to the regions. This is an exgregious example of the Congress strong arming any opposing body into submission. I hope that the Senate will vote against this amendment and that the people will be smart enough to vote against this amendment should it every come to referenda.
