The Real First Amendment

Introduction:
When our Founders envisioned the House of Representatives, they did not assume that the number of people represented by a representative would increase. During the first Congress, one representative represented 62,000 people. This was supposed to be a constant, and as such, the very first amendment of the Bill of Rights - also known as Article the First - was proposed. It would have one representative per 60,000 people. In a modern context, that increases the current 435 to 6200+. Too much you say? Well remember your representative, yes - your representative, has only a mere 700,000+ people he "represents" at present. No wonder you've never met him!

No taxation without representation!

Full Text:

Article the first... After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.

Supporters:
Patriots, the Founders.

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Article the First - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://www.thirty-thousand.org/

“...the House of Representatives will, within a single century, consist of more than six hundred members.”
— James Wilson, November 30, 1787
Delegate to the Convention of the State of Pennsylvania,
on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution.

Parental Rights Amendment

Introduction:
The Parental Rights Amendment is an attempt to clarify the rights of parents in relation to the government. Its advocates are mostly Christian Conservatives and it does not provide for parental responsibilities or for the rights of the child. It has been criticized both by the Home-school advocates and ardent Libertarians who stress it is poorly written, and that the tenth amendment means that it should be done at the state- not federal level.

Full Text:

SECTION 1
The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right.
SECTION 2
Neither the United States nor any State shall infringe upon this right without demonstrating that its governmental interest as applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwise served.
SECTION 3
No treaty may be adopted nor shall any source of international law be employed to supersede, modify, interpret, or apply to the rights guaranteed by this article.

Supporters:
Rep. Fleming in House, Sen DeMint in Senate
Previously Rep Hoekstra in House.

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Parental Rights Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.
The U.S. should sign the Convention on the Rights of the Child instead.

Links:
http://www.parentalrights.org/
http://pillsworld.blogspot.com/2009/06/parentalrights-bill.html

Preserving Capitalism in America Amendment

Introduction:
The Preserving Capitalism in America Amendment was an attempt to end Government involved in Corporations.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the ‘Preserving Capitalism in America Amendment’.

SEC. 2. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

‘Article--

‘The United States shall not own, subscribe to, or otherwise have any interest in the stock or equity of any company, association or corporation: Provided, That the foregoing prohibition shall not apply to any investments through any pension funds.’.

Supporters:
Rep Turner from Ohio, 100+ cosponsors in 2009, 0 cosponsors in 2011-2012

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject Preserving Capitalism in America Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Right to Vote Amendment

Introduction:
The Right to Vote Amendment is an attempt to establish a "right-to-vote" within the realm of the Constitution.

Full Text:

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right to vote.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

`Article--

`Section 1. All citizens of the United States who are eighteen years of age or older shall have the right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides. The right to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, any State, or any other public or private person or entity, except that the United States or any State may establish regulations narrowly tailored to produce efficient and honest elections.

`Section 2. Each State shall administer public elections in the State in accordance with election performance standards established by the Congress. The Congress shall reconsider such election performance standards at least once every four years to determine if higher standards should be established to reflect improvements in methods and practices regarding the administration of elections.

`Section 3. Each State shall provide any eligible voter the opportunity to register and vote on the day of any public election.

`Section 4. The Congress shall have power to enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation.'.

Supporters:
Jesse Jackson, Jr. and other Democrats.

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Right to Vote Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.
It is unnecessary, plain and simple.

Links:
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Term-Limits Amendment

Introduction:
The Term-Limits Amendment would extend the limits already on the President to the Congress. Thereby eliminating the peoples' right to electing whomever they please. Like the 22nd amendment, it is damaging to our Constitution.

Full Text:

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to limiting the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve to 3 in the House of Representatives and 2 in the Senate.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:

‘Article--

‘Section 1. No person who has served three terms as a Representative shall be eligible for election to the House of Representatives. For purposes of this section, the election of a person to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives shall be included as one term in determining the number of terms that such person has served as a Representative if the person fills the vacancy for more than one year.

‘Section 2. No person who has served two terms as a Senator shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Senate. For purposes of this section, the election or appointment of a person to fill a vacancy in the Senate shall be included as one term in determining the number of terms that such person has served as a Senator if the person fills the vacancy for more than three years.

‘Section 3. No term beginning before the date of the ratification of this article shall be taken into account in determining eligibility for election or appointment under this article.’.

Supporters:
Senators Jim DeMint, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul.

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Term-Limits Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Internet Freedom Amendment

Introduction:
The Internet Freedom Amendment is a 21st-century amendment guaranteeing the Bill of Rights & Constitution applies online.

Full Text:

No Specific text in mind

Supporters:
Unknown

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Internet Freedom Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-penn/internet-freedom-amendment_b_830524.html

District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment

Introduction:
The title says it all.

Full Text:

Section 1. For purposes of representation in the Congress, election of the President and Vice President, and article V of this Constitution, the District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall be treated as though it were a State.

Section 2. The exercise of the rights and powers conferred under this article shall be by the people of the District constituting the seat of government, and as shall be provided by the Congress.

Section 3. The twenty-third article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 4. This article shall be inoperative, unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

Supporters:
?

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Death Penalty Abolition Amendment

Introduction:
The title says it all.

Full Text:

The death penalty shall not be imposed by the United States, or by any State, Territory, or other jurisdiction within the United States.

Supporters:
?

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Death Penalty Abolition Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment

Introduction:
The Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment is an attempt to allow non-native citizens to run for office.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. A person who is a citizen of the United States, who has been for 20 years a citizen of the United States, and who is otherwise eligible to the Office of President, is not ineligible to that Office by reason of not being a native born citizen of the United States.

SECTION 2. This article shall not take effect unless it has been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States not later than 7 years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

Supporters:
Unknown

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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School Prayer Amendment

Introduction:
The School Prayer Amendment is an attempt to allow children to pray in school.

Full Text:

Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any State to participate in prayer. Neither the United States nor any State shall prescribe the content of any such prayer.

Supporters:
Unknown

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the School Prayer Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Birthright Citizenship Abolition Amendment

Introduction:
The Birthright Citizen Abolition Amendment is a possible solution to the dispute over the repeal of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution, which would end the most disputed part of the 14th.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. No person born in the United States after the date of the ratification of this article shall be a citizen of the United States, or of any State, on account of birth in the United States unless the mother or father of the person is a citizen of the United States, or is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, at the time of the birth.

SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Supporters:
Ron Paul

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Birthright Citizenship Abolition Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Electoral College Abolition Amendment

Introduction:
The Electoral College Abolition Amendment was first proposed after the failure of Al Gore to win the 2000 election.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. The President and Vice President shall be elected jointly by the direct vote of the citizens of the United States, without regard to whether the citizens are residents of a State.

SECTION 2. The persons having the greatest number of votes for President and Vice President shall be elected, so long as such persons have a majority of the votes cast.

SECTION 3. Congress shall have the power to enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation.

SECTION 4. This article shall apply with respect to any election for President and Vice President held after the expiration of the 1-year period which begins on the date of the ratification of this article.

Supporters:
Democrats

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Electoral College Abolition Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Federal Marriage Amendment

Introduction:
The Federal Marriage Amendment is an attempt to give the Government the ability to define marriage. It is fundamentally unconstitutional in this respect. It has been rejected in 2004 & 2006.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any State, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.

Supporters:
Christian Fundamentalists

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Federal Marriage Amendment. - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Human Life Amendment

Introduction:
The Human Life Amendment is an anti-choice proposal, proposed primarily by Christian Fundamentalists.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. With respect to the right to life, the word `person' as used in this article and in the fifth and fourteenth articles of amendment to the Constitution of the United States applies to all human beings irrespective of age, health, function, or condition of dependency, including their unborn offspring at every state of their biological development.

SECTION 2. No unborn person shall be deprived of life by any person: Provided, however, That nothing in this article shall prohibit a law permitting only those medical procedures required to prevent the death of the mother.

SECTION 3. The Congress and the several States shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

SECTION 4. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, within ten years of the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

Supporters:
Christian Fundamentalists

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Human Life Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Flag Desecration Amendment

Introduction:
The Flag Desecration Amendment, often referred to as the flag burning amendment, is a controversial proposed constitutional amendment to the United States Constitution that would allow the United States Congress to statutorily prohibit expression of political views through the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. The concept of flag desecration continues to provoke a heated debate over protecting a national symbol and protecting free speech.

Full Text:

The Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of desecration of the flag of the United States and to set criminal penalties for that act.

Supporters:
?

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally reject the Flag Desecration Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Line-Item Veto Amendment

Introduction:
The Line-Item Veto Amendment would allow the President to veto lines of given bills, without vetoing the entire bill. This exists in most states.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. The President may approve any appropriation or provision and disapprove any other appropriation or provision in the same appropriation bill. In such case he shall, in signing the bill, designate the appropriations and provisions disapproved; and shall return a copy of such appropriations and provisions, with his objections, to the House in which the bill shall have originated; and the same proceedings shall then be had as in case of other bills disapproved by the President.

SECTION 2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

Supporters:
A whole host of people, including Newt Gingrich.

Personal Comments:
I am undecided on the Line-Item Veto Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Child Labor Amendment

Introduction:
The Child Labor Amendment emerged from the 1920's Debate over the issue. On the opposing side were urban Catholics & Populists, in support were most Republicans but also Socialists.

The debate can be summed up as Jefferson v. Washington D.C.

Full Text:

Section 1. The Congress shall have power to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons under eighteen years of age.

Section 2. The power of the several States is unimpaired by this article except that the operation of State laws shall be suspended to the extent necessary to give effect to legislation enacted by the Congress.

Supporters:
?

Personal Comments:
I am undecided on the Child Labor Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://mises.org/etexts/childlabor.pdf

Bricker Amendment

Introduction:
The problem of international treaties superseding the U.S. Constitution and undermining the foundations of our Republic is not a new one. The conservative movement of the early 1950's, which looked on the United Nations with extreme suspicion, was particularly sensitive to this threat -- and they hit upon a solution: the Bricker Amendment.

Full Text:

• Section 1. No treaty of executive agreement shall be made respecting the rights of citizens of the United States protected by this Constitution or abridging or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
• Section 2. No treaty or executive agreement shall vest in any international organization or in any foreign power any of the legislative, executive, or judicial powers vested by this Constitution in the Congress, the President, and in the courts of the United States, respectively.
• Section 3. No treaty or executive agreement shall alter or abridge the laws of the United States or the Constitution of laws of the several unless, and then only to the extent that, Congress shall so provide by joint resolution.
• Section 4. Executive agreements shall not be made in lieu of treaties.
  • Executive agreements shall, if not sooner terminated, expire automatically one year after the end of the term of office for which the President making the agreement shall have been elected, but the Congress may, at the request of any President, extend for the duration of the term of such President the life of any such agreement made or extended during the next preceding Presidential term.
  • The President shall publish all executive agreements except that those which in his judgment require secrecy shall be submitted to appropriate committees of the Congress in lieu of publication.
• Section 5. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Supporters:
Most Conservatives, including Ron Paul since the 1970's.

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Bricker Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Victims' Rights Amendment

Introduction:
The Victims' Rights Amendment speaks for itself, and the fact it has the support of the top-dogs of both the GOP and (un)Democratic Party suggests it will pass within our lifetimes.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. The rights of victims of violent crime, being capable of protection without denying the constitutional rights of those accused of victimizing them, are hereby established and shall not be denied by any State or the United States and may be restricted only as provided in this article.

SECTION 2. A victim of violent crime shall have the right to reasonable and timely notice of any public proceeding involving the crime and of any release or escape of the accused; the rights not to be excluded from such public proceeding and reasonably to be heard at public release, plea, sentencing, reprieve, and pardon proceedings; and the right to adjudicative decisions that duly consider the victim's safety, interest in avoiding unreasonable delay, and just and timely claims to restitution from the offender. These rights shall not be restricted except when and to the degree dictated by a substantial interest in public safety or the administration of criminal justice, or by compelling necessity.

SECTION 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to provide grounds for a new trial or to authorize any claim for damages. Only the victim or the victim's lawful representative may assert the rights established by this article, and no person accused of the crime may obtain any form of relief hereunder.

SECTION 4. Congress shall have power to enforce by appropriate legislation the provisions of this article. Nothing in this article shall affect the President's authority to grant reprieves or pardons.

SECTION 5. This article shall be inoperative unless it has been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within 7 years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress. This article shall take effect on the 180th day after the date of its ratification.

Supporters:
Bipartisan, including retired Sen John Kyl (R-AZ) & Senator Feinstein (D-CA) & President George W. Bush

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Victims' Rights Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://www.nvcap.org

Titles of Nobility Amendment

Introduction:
The Titles of Nobility Amendment was proposed in 1810 to affirm American opposition to foreign rule. In a sense, the amendment is already part of the Constitution. This is unlikely to be passed anytime soon.

Full Text:

If any citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive or retain, any title of nobility or honour, or shall, without the consent of Congress, accept and retain any present, pension, office or emolument of any kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince or foreign power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States, and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under them, or either of them.

Supporters:
Unknown

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Titles of Nobility Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
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Blaine Amendment

Introduction:
The Blaine Amendment stresses separation of church and state, including in respect to funding. Proposed by Senator & Republican Presidential Nominee, James G. Blaine.

Full Text:

No State shall make any law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; and no money raised by taxation in any State for the support of public schools, or derived from any public fund therefor, nor any public lands devoted thereto, shall ever be under the control of any religious sect; nor shall any money so raised or lands so devoted be divided between religious sects or denominations.

Supporters:
Unknown

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Blaine Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://www.blaineamendments.org/Intro/whatis.html

English Official Language Amendment

Introduction:
Declaring English as the official language of the United States.

Full Text:

SECTION 1. The English language shall be the official language of the United States. As the official language, the English language shall be used for all public acts including every order, resolution, vote, and election, and for all records and judicial proceedings of the Government of the United States and the governments of the several States.

SECTION 2. The Congress and the States shall enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Supporters:
Most of Congress

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the English Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
www.proenglish.org

Environmental Protection & Social Responsibility Amendment

Introduction:
Calls for the amendment of: (1) the Constitution to subordinate the political rights of corporations to the rights of individuals; and (2) U.S. laws to include a public federal election campaign finance system, a social and environmental responsibility education initiative, and a new federal corporate charter statute to facilitate environmentally and socially responsible corporate practices.

Full Text:

Calling for an environmental and social responsibility amendment to the United States Constitution.

Whereas it has become settled law and Supreme Court precedent to regard corporations as the legal equivalent of individual persons, with many of the rights, liberties, and protections to which an individual person is entitled;

Whereas corporate persons, by virtue of their ability to create, allocate, and preserve wealth, have an advantage over individual persons in expressing political speech, including campaign contributions, and petitioning their government;

Whereas the United States, the Earth, and its inhabitants face significant dangers from environmentally destructive economic arrangements that derive short-term corporate profits at the expense of long-term, planetary damage;

Whereas the long-term prosperity of the United States and its people is interrelated and inextricable from the long-term sustainability of the Earth; and

Whereas civic, religious, and labor leaders in the United States believe an amendment to the Constitution is necessary to restore individual rights to their traditional supremacy over the rights of corporations and to ensure the long-term interests of the United States people and the world: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that, as articulated in the environmental and social responsibility amendment to the United States Constitution, the--

(1) Constitution of the United States should be amended to subordinate the political rights of corporations to the rights of individuals; and

(2) laws of the United States should be amended to include a public Federal election campaign finance system, a social and environmental responsibility education initiative, and a new Federal corporate charter statute to facilitate environmentally and socially responsible corporate practices.

Supporters:
Rep. Dennis Kucinich

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Kucinich Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hr112-156

Madison Amendment

Introduction:
The Madison Amendment gives States the same power as Congress to propose an individual Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Full Text:

"ARTICLE ___. The Congress, on Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, which all contain an identical Amendment, shall call a Convention solely to decide whether to propose that specific Amendment to the States, which, if proposed shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified pursuant to Article V."

Supporters:
Rep. Walt Minnick (D,ID)
Rep. John Culberson (R,TX)
Rep. Rob Bishop (R, UT)
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D,TX)

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Madison Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://www.madisonamendment.org/

Repeal Amendment

Introduction:

Our Founding Fathers gave enumerated powers to the federal government and reserved most of the power to the states and the people. Today, the federal government has usurped the power that the Founders originally intended for the states and the people. The Repeal Amendment is dedicated to restoring our nation's liberty by advocating for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that restores the balance of power between the states and federal government.

Full Text:

"Any provision of law or regulation of the United States may be repealed by the several states, and such repeal shall be effective when the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states approve resolutions for this purpose that particularly describe the same provision or provisions of law or regulation to be repealed."

Supporters:
Eric Cantor, Judge Napolitano, others TBD

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Repeal Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://www.repealamendment.org
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12144

The People's Rights Amendment

Introduction:
Newly proposed amendment to clarify the First Amendment.

Full Text:

Section 1. We the people who ordain and establish this Constitution intend the rights protected by this Constitution to be the rights of natural persons.

Section 2. People, person, or persons as used in this Constitution does not include corporations, limited liability companies or other corporate entities established by the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state, and such corporate entities are subject to such regulation as the people, through their elected state and federal representatives, deem reasonable and are otherwise consistent with the powers of Congress and the States under this Constitution.

Section 3. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the people's rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, and such other rights of the people, which rights are inalienable.

Supporters:
Unknown

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the People's Rights Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://freespeechforpeople.org/

Equal Rights Amendment

Proposed March, 1972, written 1923

Introduction:

The Equal Rights Amendment, first proposed in 1923 to affirm that women and men have equal rights under the law, is still not part of the U.S. Constitution.

The ERA was passed out of Congress in 1972 and has been ratified by 35 of the necessary 38 states. When three more states vote yes, it is possible that the ERA could become the 28th Amendment. The ERA could also be ratified by restarting the traditional process of passage by a two-thirds majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives, followed by ratification by legislatures in three-quarters (38) of the 50 states.

Full Text:

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Supporters:
Mostly Bipartisan

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Equal Rights Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Links:
http://www.equalrightsamendment.org

Balanced Budget Amendment

Introduction:
The Balanced Budget Amendment is an article of Amendment to the Constitution of the United States that has at various times in American history been proposed. The most serious effort to successfully add this amendment to the Constitution was in 1982 during the Reagan Administration. It was sabotaged and ever since the BBA has been part of the Republican Party Platform, with a few exceptions all Republican Senators and most Representatives support the amendment. Nearly all Republicans running for Congress in the year of 2012 will have the BBA as part of their promises. This is the most important amendment so far lacking from the Constitution. It will be added to the Constitution.

Full Text*:

1. Section 1. Prior to each fiscal year, the Congress shall adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for that year in which total outlays are no greater than total receipts. The Congress may amend such statement provided revised outlays are not greater than revised receipts. Whenever three-fifths of the whole number of both Houses shall deem it necessary, Congress in such statement may provide for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a vote directly to that subject. The Congress and the President shall ensure that actual outlays do not exceed the outlays set forth in such statement.
2. Section 2. Total receipts for any fiscal year set forth in the statement adopted pursuant to this article shall not increase by a rate greater than the rate of increase in national income in the last calendar year ending before such fiscal year, unless a majority of the whole number of both Houses of Congress shall have passed a bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts and such bill has become law.
3. Section 3. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect.
4. Section 4. The Congress may not require that the states engage in additional activities without compensation equal to the additional costs.
5. Section 5. Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States except those derived from borrowing and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except those for repayment of debt principal.
6. Section 6. This article shall take effect for the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification.

*This is the 1982 version.

Supporters:
GOP Leadership
President Ronald Reagan
President George Bush
GOP Presidential Nominee Bob Dole
All 2000 & 2008 & 2012 Republican Presidential Candidates
Conservatives like Marco Rubio, Libertarians like Ron Paul and Moderates like Sen. Hatch & Sen. McCain all agree on this amendment.

Well known Democrats also support the BBA

Personal Comments:
I unequivocally support the Balanced Budget Amendment - Smart aka Reuven.

Quotes:

Thomas Jefferson said: "I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution... I mean an additional article, taking from the federal government the power of borrowing."

James Madison, The Father of the Constitution, said: "A public debt is a public curse."

Links:
http://www.balanceourbudget.com/
http://www.bbanow.org/

Introduction

In order to begin this blog, I shall post in-depth analysis of our current amendments and future amendments. As well as failed amendments no longer considered viable.

Thank you for reading.