The US Constitution

[Edwina's Secretary]

There has been some hyperbolic fear mongering on PT about the danger the US Constitution may face in the coming years.

Facts overcome fear. So here are some facts.

The US Constitution was ratified in 1788. There have been 27 amendments to the original constitution over the years. This is probably a good thing since the country and the world are rather different today than in 1788.

The president does not amend the constitution – congress writes and passes proposed amendments. The amendment must then be ratified by ¾ of the states. Hundreds of amendments are proposed -- very few are seriously discussed – far, far fewer get to a vote and are sent to the states for ratification.

The states do not always ratify what congress passes. An example is the Equal Rights Amendment. This was to guarantee women equal rights under the constitution. It was passed by congress and ratified by 35 of the states. It has never been ratified by the three additional states needed.

In the 20th century 13 amendments were ratified. The 18th and 21st cancel each other out (prohibition and repeal of prohibition.) Other 20th century amendments include granting women the right to vote, limiting presidential terms to two, prohibiting poll taxes, limiting congressional pay raises and reducing the voting age from 21 to 18.

Despite all these changes to the constitution the Union still stands.

So don’t drink the Kool-aid. At ease. Do not be afraid. Change has happen, change will continue to happen. After all...would you really want to live without change?

[DJFyrewolf36]

I mean this with all sincerity...

THANK YOU!

Sometimes hearing a voice of reason makes me feel as if the world hasn't completely gone crazy.

[K9soul]

I have to agree... I have been puzzled about the seeming fears that one man could be elected president, go in and just rewrite the constitution himself, even if he wanted to. Just think of how many presidents have been against Roe V Wade or Pro-life, yet they cannot just skip into office and fully overturn it themselves. No president can just eliminate checks and balances, in my belief. That's something to keep in mind for anyone who thinks a president can go in and easily produce massive changes, either for good or for ill. I have no soaring hopes that the man elected president will just get in and solve the nation's problems overnight.

[Ginger's Mom]

Good post, truly, I mean that. However, many people will answer "yes" to your last question. Many people are so worried about hanging on to what they have, that they have decided that change is the enemy. They have succeeded so far in protecting what they have in the world as they now perceive it to be, and they fear any change. I would point to the Equal Rights Amendment as a perfect example of that. I am also willing to bet that some people (not necessarily people on this board) would point to some of the changes that you have mentioned as being the reason this country is in the precarious financial and security position that it is in now (never mind that most of the countries on the globe are experiencing similar issues). So although your post is most informative, I am afraid it will only enlighten those who are willing to open their eyes to the light.

[beeniesmom]

Thanks. That was good information.

[jennielynn1970]

I think this woman really summed it all up.

[Puckstop31]

Thank you for the civics lesson. A small shame that most people do not understand the process you explained.

Obama as President? Fine. Obama as President with an entirely Democratic legislature? Yikes. There needs to be balance.

Like I have said before, several times... I HOPE and PRAY I am wrong. But I fear that Barack Obama wants to turn the Constitution into a document of entitlements, rather than freedoms.