Constitutional amendments

[A18]

If you could add any new amendment to the Constitution, what would it be?

[Speed of Sound]

The "All Parties polling at least 1% get funded equally by the government and no outside money can be used during the campaign" Amendment. catchy, huh?

[Emsworth]

I have a lot of things I would like to do. If I can pick only one, I would explicitly spell out various protections from state governments, akin to the protections from federal governments stated in the Bill of Rights.

Aside from that, I hope that I can mention:
- Repealing the Twenty-Second and Twenty-Seventh Amendments
- Setting a fixed size for the Supreme Court
- Repealing the requirement that Presidents be natural-born citizens

[John Dibble]

The Liberty Amendment.

Or maybe one that says "You know guys, when we made the Second Amendment it wasn't meant as a joke!"

[A18]

My amendment would simply set a uniform process for state constitutional amendments.

Proposal: two-thirds of each chamber of the legislature
Ratification: three-fifths of the voters in the next general election

[Emsworth]

My amendment would simply set a uniform process for state constitutional amendments.

Proposal: two-thirds of each chamber of the legislature
Ratification: three-fifths of the voters in the next general election

That's rather unexpected, actually.

[A18]

I oppose the incorporation of the bill of rights against the states as a judicial matter because I believe it is an improper, activist interpretation.

But I oppose it not only as a judicial matter, but as a policy matter as well. I feel it unjustly consolidates power in the hands of the federal judiciary.

The more jurisdictions there are, the more choices you have, and thus the more flexibility and freedom. But the problem here is that state constitutions are too easily amended -- and I do not believe rights should be subject to fickle majorities.

So I believe this brings about the best of both worlds: legal diversity and stability. Further still, it would greatly de-politicize the federal judiciary.

[A18]

Also:

Amendment --.
Section 1. Congress shall not collect more than three-tenths of any person's income.

Section 2. Outlays shall not exceed the sum of all receipts not derived from borrowing.

Section 3. The provisions of this article are waived for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect.

[Max Power]

I'd lower the voting age to sixteen (like some Canadians want to), legalize same-sex marriage, and all political parties recieve three dollars for every vote they recieved in the previous election.

[Emsworth]

I'd lower the voting age to sixteen (like some Canadians want to), legalize same-sex marriage, and all political parties recieve three dollars for every vote they recieved in the previous election.

The first two sound reasonable (although I don't believe that such constitutional amendments should be passed). On the third, however, the three dollars would become an insignificant amount after a while due to inflation.

[Max Power]

I'd lower the voting age to sixteen (like some Canadians want to), legalize same-sex marriage, and all political parties recieve three dollars for every vote they recieved in the previous election.

The first two sound reasonable (although I don't believe that such constitutional amendments should be passed). On the third, however, the three dollars would become an insignificant amount after a while due to inflation.

I guess you're right. Maybe three dollars adjusted to inflation over time.

[The Duke]

Amendment XXVIII

1. There shall be no limit to the number of terms of office that a President of the United States may serve.

2. There shall be no test of national origin to be elected President of the United States.

[Lincoln Republican]

Amendment
Marriage enshrined in the constitution as the union of one man and one woman only.

Amendment
Judges shall not legislate from the bench.  They shall respect and enforce the laws, as passed by the duly elected representatives of the people.

[Cubby]

Amendment
Marriage enshrined in the constitution as the union of one man and one woman only.

Amenement
Judges shall not legislate from the bench.  They shall respect and enforce the laws, as passed by the duly elected representatives of the people.

I hope you're just using Rhode Island as your avatar and you're really from somewhere else. We don't take kindly to your type here in New England. Religion is a private matter. 

Antonin Scalia legislates more than any justice since Earl Warren. The Supreme Court is an equal member of the Federal Government, as intended by the Founding Fathers. It will not be subjugated by the corrupt 109th Congress or any of its supporters.

[nini2287]

Amendment:

No government may use the power of eminent domain to seize private property for private enterprise.

[Ebowed]

Amendment
Marriage enshrined in the constitution as the union of one man and one woman only.

Amenement
Judges shall not legislate from the bench.  They shall respect and enforce the laws, as passed by the duly elected representatives of the people.

Religion is a private matter. 

WTF did that post have to do with religion?!  Marriage and religion aren't the same thing, you know.  If you need to use silly liberal talking points that make the country despise the Democratic party, at least use the right one!

Anyway, an amendment defining when life begins would be nice, as well as an anti capital punishment one.  Although when we have that silly flag desecration amendment out there, there's likely little chance of the Government adding anything important to the Constitution, because they're more obsessed with making each other look unpatriotic to win the next midterm.

[Lincoln Republican]

Amendment
Marriage enshrined in the constitution as the union of one man and one woman only.

Amenement
Judges shall not legislate from the bench.  They shall respect and enforce the laws, as passed by the duly elected representatives of the people.

I hope you're just using Rhode Island as your avatar and you're really from somewhere else. We don't take kindly to your type here in New England. Religion is a private matter. 

Antonin Scalia legislates more than any justice since Earl Warren. The Supreme Court is an equal member of the Federal Government, as intended by the Founding Fathers. It will not be subjugated by the corrupt 109th Congress or any of its supporters.

Well, "your type", even some of us New Englanders believe in the traditional definition of marriage, i.e. one man and one woman, and believe it should be enshrined in the constitution.  If you don't like that, that is your privilege.

One's religion and religious beliefs are another matter altogether.  Don't confuse the two.

About the courts, I was not really serious.  I am fully aware the executive, the legislative, and the judicial are separate branches of government, as they should be.  I do, however, believe that judges should uphold the constitution.  I am looking forward to getting Roberts confirmed to the Supreme Court, and to getting another conservative judge to replace Rehnquist when he retires, which I believe will be sooner rather than later.  Perhaps, as well, GWB will get to nominate a third conservative judge to replace Associate Justice Stevens, who may step down during GWB's term.

I quite like the current Congress by the way.

[Smash255]

Amendment
Marriage enshrined in the constitution as the union of one man and one woman only.

Amenement
Judges shall not legislate from the bench.  They shall respect and enforce the laws, as passed by the duly elected representatives of the people.

I hope you're just using Rhode Island as your avatar and you're really from somewhere else. We don't take kindly to your type here in New England. Religion is a private matter. 

Antonin Scalia legislates more than any justice since Earl Warren. The Supreme Court is an equal member of the Federal Government, as intended by the Founding Fathers. It will not be subjugated by the corrupt 109th Congress or any of its supporters.

Well, "your type", even some of us New Englanders believe in the traditional definition of marriage, i.e. one man and one woman, and believe it should be enshrined in the constitution.  If you don't like that, that is your privilege.

One's religion and religious beliefs are another matter altogether.  Don't confuse the two.

About the courts, I was not really serious.  I am fully aware the executive, the legislative, and the judicial are separate branches of government, as they should be.  I do, however, believe that judges should uphold the constitution.  I am looking forward to getting Roberts confirmed to the Supreme Court, and to getting another conservative judge to replace Rehnquist when he retires, which I believe will be sooner rather than later.  Perhaps, as well, GWB will get to nominate a third conservative judge to replace Associate Justice Stevens, who may step down during GWB's term.

I quite like the current Congress by the way.

You mean the tradition that for most of time had the wife the property of the husband??

[Lincoln Republican]

Amendment
Marriage enshrined in the constitution as the union of one man and one woman only.

Amenement
Judges shall not legislate from the bench.  They shall respect and enforce the laws, as passed by the duly elected representatives of the people.

I hope you're just using Rhode Island as your avatar and you're really from somewhere else. We don't take kindly to your type here in New England. Religion is a private matter. 

Antonin Scalia legislates more than any justice since Earl Warren. The Supreme Court is an equal member of the Federal Government, as intended by the Founding Fathers. It will not be subjugated by the corrupt 109th Congress or any of its supporters.

Well, "your type", even some of us New Englanders believe in the traditional definition of marriage, i.e. one man and one woman, and believe it should be enshrined in the constitution.  If you don't like that, that is your privilege.

One's religion and religious beliefs are another matter altogether.  Don't confuse the two.

About the courts, I was not really serious.  I am fully aware the executive, the legislative, and the judicial are separate branches of government, as they should be.  I do, however, believe that judges should uphold the constitution.  I am looking forward to getting Roberts confirmed to the Supreme Court, and to getting another conservative judge to replace Rehnquist when he retires, which I believe will be sooner rather than later.  Perhaps, as well, GWB will get to nominate a third conservative judge to replace Associate Justice Stevens, who may step down during GWB's term.

I quite like the current Congress by the way.

You mean the tradition that for most of time had the wife the property of the husband??

No, and your comment is ridiculous.

I support marriage as a union of one man one woman.  I do not support same sex marriage.

If you have a problem with that, so what? 

[Lincoln Republican]

Antonin Scalia legislates more than any justice since Earl Warren. The Supreme Court is an equal member of the Federal Government, as intended by the Founding Fathers. It will not be subjugated by the corrupt 109th Congress or any of its supporters.

To compare Justice Antonin Scalia with  Chief Justice Earl Warren is ludicrous.

Earl Warren turned out to be a very activist, liberal Justice.  Eisenhower nominated him believing he was nominating a conservative for the bench.  Eisenhower later said this was the worst mistake he ever made.

Justice Scalia is conservative and respects the constitution.  I hope he is appointed Chief Justice when Rehnquist steps down.     

[??????????]

Amendment
Marriage enshrined in the constitution as the union of one man and one woman only.

Amenement
Judges shall not legislate from the bench.  They shall respect and enforce the laws, as passed by the duly elected representatives of the people.

I hope you're just using Rhode Island as your avatar and you're really from somewhere else. We don't take kindly to your type here in New England. Religion is a private matter. 

Antonin Scalia legislates more than any justice since Earl Warren. The Supreme Court is an equal member of the Federal Government, as intended by the Founding Fathers. It will not be subjugated by the corrupt 109th Congress or any of its supporters.

Well, "your type", even some of us New Englanders believe in the traditional definition of marriage, i.e. one man and one woman, and believe it should be enshrined in the constitution.  If you don't like that, that is your privilege.

One's religion and religious beliefs are another matter altogether.  Don't confuse the two.

About the courts, I was not really serious.  I am fully aware the executive, the legislative, and the judicial are separate branches of government, as they should be.  I do, however, believe that judges should uphold the constitution.  I am looking forward to getting Roberts confirmed to the Supreme Court, and to getting another conservative judge to replace Rehnquist when he retires, which I believe will be sooner rather than later.  Perhaps, as well, GWB will get to nominate a third conservative judge to replace Associate Justice Stevens, who may step down during GWB's term.

I quite like the current Congress by the way.

You mean the tradition that for most of time had the wife the property of the husband??

Slow it down ! We're running out of straw for all the strawmen that have been used around here lately.

[David S]

Amendment:

No government may use the power of eminent domain to seize private property for private enterprise.

^^^ I like that one!

To that I would add two more:
1. The 16th amendment is hereby repealled.

2. The constitution means what it says. If you want to change it get a constitutional amendment, but you cannot change it by ignoring it or by saying it means something different than what it says. Any legislator, judge or president who tries to do that will get his ass thrown out.

[MasterJedi]

Amendment:

No government may use the power of eminent domain to seize private property for private enterprise.

^^^^ This

Lowering the voting age to 16, setting the number of judges on the supreme court and outlawing same-sex marraige.

[jokerman]

Constitutional amendments are generally unconstitutional.

[AkSaber]

I guess ones to end abortion and gun control.