Sunday, December 6, 2009

The Final Amendment

The 27th amendment

This site states the amendment and gives us a breif history of how and why this came to be a part of our American Constitution. If the average American can't choose what their next pay increase will be why should the people we elect to represent us get to? I am not ok with this and the 27th amendment is what protects it.

Congressional Compensation

"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

This amendment was propsed at the same time as the bill of rights and was accepted more than 200 years later. This states that the congress cannot approve a raise for themselves. If one is ratified, then it will not take effect until the next election of house and senate.

No pay raise

This article describes the history of this amendment and why it was finally added in 1992.

Youth Voting




This video talks about the importance of youth voting especailly for the 2008 election. As a youth myself, I feel that our voice is one of the most important because as the saying goes, the children are our future. Voting as a youth, is choosing my future.

Can serve and now can vote

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.


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


This amendment is the one that lowers the voting age from 21 to 18. The thought behind that is that if an individual is old enough to serve in the military they are old enough to vote.


Youths vote

This article talks about the percentage increase of youth voters for the 2008 elections. As a youth voter, I felt obligated to cast my vote to choose who will represent me. Being able to vote at the age of 18 connected me to my true patriotism.

Halo meets the 25th amendment



As a fan of Halo and Rooster Teeths RvB, I find this video rather great. The voice in this video gives a discription of the 25th amendment. The skit performed in this video gives a direct idea of how the 25th amendment could be inacted despite the fact that the odds of the Zombie Apocolypse is slim to none. With the miraculous mixing of Halo, the 25th amendment and Harry Potter theme music, we have a comedical understanding of the 25th amendment.

the 25th amendment

Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.


This amendment gives the terms of the vice presidents actions regarding the death or impeachment/resignation of the current president. This also gives the duties of the vice president should a president fall ill and unable to fullfil his duties.

Reagan and the 25th

In this article, experts dispute rather or not Reagan relingueshed his powers temporarily to Bush appropriatly. It is found that Reagan had followed the appropriations set down by 25th amendment.

Time: a poll tax?



This video is very interesting in terms of the way we think of poll taxes. Would you have ever considered your time as a poll tax? I know I never would have. However, I never experienced such time delay in voting. in the 2008 election, I was in line, cast my vote, and submitted my ballot all in under 10 minutes. Did you experience these long lines where you voted? 

The 24th amendment

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.


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

 
This law bans any restictions on an individual to participate in any federal election. This amendment is what gives every citizen the power to decide who represents them in our federal government.
 
How Georgia got around the anti-poll tax
 
In 2005 Georgia implemented a law that you must have a voter ID card in order to vote. This can be considered a poll tax being that many people may not be able to afford the card but still want to vote for their candidate or representative. Do you find this fair?

Number 23(Not featuring Jim Carrey)

A brief history of the 23rd

This notates a brief history of the 23rd amendment. It explains the growth of the city since its founding and why there should be electoral representatives for the people living in this city.

23rd

Section 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:


A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelth article of amendment.

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

 
This amendment is the one that appropriates the electoral college candidates for the District of Columbia.
 
The electoral college
 
This website has information on the electoral college. What it does, who is apart of it, when it was started, etc. Take a look and learn a little bit more about the processes of the electoral college.

Repeal it?

Repeal the 22nd amendment

This article provides an insight as to why we might consider repealing the 22nd amendment. I understand that we created this amendment to prevent from a monarchy but as it states in the article, a british prime minister is can be re elected so why can't a president. If for example, we were to go through the Cold War again, do you think we would be able to act like we did in the past with the guidance we have now? Or would you like to be able to have someone who has had experience in office leading us against the same situation.

Friday, December 4, 2009

The 22nd amendment(no witisicms for this one)

Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

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 to the States by the Congress.


This amendment limits the terms of the president to only 2 4 year terms. The longest serving president was Franklin Delano Roosevelt who served 12 year 1 month and 8 days. President Roosevelt passed on April 12, 1945 from Cerebral Hemorage. His last words were "I have a terrible headache" He was the ONLY president to serve more than 2 terms.



This video is a reading of the 22nd amendment by Rev. Timothy McDonald. For me hearing this amendment makes it a little easier for me to comprehend than reading it myself.

December 5th, the anniversary of the repeal

Repeal Day

December 5th is the official day that Prohibition was repealed. This website gives a brief history of the aftermath of the repeal as well as a look into some radicals who want to recognize Repeal Day as a national constitutional holiday. I can see where they are coming from though, it's just another day that gives reason for us to celebrate our free rights!!!

The legalization of booze

Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.


Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress. Effect of Repeal



This amendment repeals prohibition. It is now legal to sell, import, export, produce, and drink liquor. Was it because men were too stressed about women being able to vote? Was it to cut back on crime and underground "rum runners"? Whatever the case is, the repealing of this 18th amendment lifted the restrictions of alcohol and destroyed the power that the "mob" bosses had over the underground booze business.

States and Repeal

This article written September 25, 1933 gives a brief listing of the states that voted for repeal of the 18th amendment. The converstation footnoted at the end of the article between President Hoover and Arthur Race gives a little bit more insight to the opinion of the bootlegging and speakeasy industries.

In 1932

1932, The 20th amendment

This article is from March 14, 1932. The ratification of the 20th amendment was in process. This amendment changed the dates that congress would open and when the president would be inaugerated. Instead of being inaugerated on March 4th, it now occurs on January 20th.

20th of January

Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.


Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6. 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.


This amendment declares when a president and vice president begin their terms. It also explains the steps to follow in case a president dies prior to the beginning of their term or if no president is elected.

The 20th amendment and its purpose

This gives the direct reason for the amendment and what it does.

Suffrage: the right to vote



We all remember School House Rock on Saturday morning cartoons right? Well this is a School House Rock video on women's suffrage. Take a look back when women were fighting for the right to vote and realize now that we have had a woman as a presidential nominee.

Women's Suffrage

Section 1: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.


Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.



This amendment is what gave women the right to vote. Thought all US citizens were given rights, women were still considered second class citizens. This amendment gave women the ability to stand up and become the strong women that we are today.

Women's suffrage: an interaction

This is an interactive website to explore events in during the campaigns for women's suffrage. Please take a look. I found this site very informative and I hope all women will feel the same way...and maybe some men too.

Prohibition



This video gives an insight to the acts and effects of prohibition.

Prohibition Reigns

Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.


Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.



This is the amendment that began prohibition. Prohibition became a big part of our countries history especially for the crime bosses and families of this nation. During this period, speakeasies began to become very popular hideouts. In order to enter a speakeasy, you had to have a secret password. Once in these often underground dens, there would be booze and women as well as poker and cigars. There were several raids on these types of hidden bars. When one would be found, the police would go in and conphiscate all the booze and often burn it or dump it. Due to this era, bootleggers flourished in the underground making of moonshine or whiskey. Those moonshiners would often be raided as well, with equipment being conphiscated and/or destroyed. Though booze was illegal, it was still a flourishing business in the underground.




Carrie Nation was one of the main protestors to gain prohibition. She physically went bar to bar destroying booze.

The 17th amendment media



As I'm finding media to include with this amendment, I'm realizing the amount of people that are opposing it. I being one of them, agree. I believe we should be a constitutional republic instead of a federal ran democracy.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

The 17th Amendment

Clause 1. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.




Clause 2. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of each State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.



Clause 3. This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.


This amendment is to help provide guidelines as how we will elect our representatives. This also gives the representatives guidelines on how to acheive the position.

Repeal the 17th amendment?

This articles gives reason as to why one would think about repealing the 17th amendment. We do not get to choose who our elected state representatives decide will be our national representatives. Where do you stand?

A breakdown of the 16th amendment effects



This is a breakdown from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Tax Foundation. This gives a breakdown of the amount of days and individual works just to pay taxes.

The 16th amendment

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."

This amendment gives congress the power to impose taxes but makes it to were they must take out taxes within proportion to the amount of money and individual makes. I.E. if the taxes are 15% and a person makes $1000 every other week, then the taxes taken out will be $150/check

The history and purpose

This amendment keeps us from being taxed to the extent that we cannot make profit from our efforts.

The cause and effect of the 15th amendment

The history of the 15th amendment

This article gives a little insight as to why the 15th amendment was instated and the immediate impact it had on the northern blacks.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The 15th amendment

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.


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

This amendment gives all citizens the right to vote. No matter their race or history. This is the last of the civil rights amendments.



This image depicts the first African American voting at the polls. Though a Poll Tax was required at many polls, the African American people did not let it hold them back from using their voice.

 
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