How to Change the Constitution

Packet 5

Differences in 230 years 1776• 13 states• 3 million Americans• Most people lived in small

villages and were self sufficient farmers / laborers

• No electricity, air conditioning, natural gas, petroleum, artificial light, insulated homes, medicines, powered transportation, etc…

2006• 50 states and some territories• 290 million Americans• A wide variety of cultures• Mass media, computer and

internet technologies, large armies capable of weapons of mass destruction, space travel, communication devices, advanced health care, etc…

So… it’s pretty amazing that these men came up with a plan that allowed for changes that they couldn’t possibly foresee.

Amendments: (changes or additions to the constitution)

1st a new amendment must be proposed (suggested)

2nd the amendment must be ratified (approved)

Could happen by:•2/3 of both houses of Congress approve a proposal. or…•A special convention requested by 2/3 of the states

Could happen by:•Approved by legislatures of 3/4 of the states or…•Approved by special conventions in 3/4 of the states

It’s not easy to change the Constitution

• Getting 2/3 or 3/4 of a group of people to agree on anything is tough – it takes 38 out of 50 states to ratify an amendment.

• And… the people make the real final decision.

• Most amendments are done through state legislatures.

• One thing that can never be changed: each state gets 2 Senators

Some recently proposed amendments

1. To repeal the 16th Amendment and specifically prohibit an income tax 2. To permit the States to set term limits for their Representatives and Senators 3. To remove automatic citizenship of children born in the U.S. to non-resident

parents 4. To prohibit abortion5. To force a three-fifths vote for any bill that raises taxes. 6. To specifically permit prayer at school meetings and ceremonies 7. To provide for continuity of government in case of a catastrophic event 8. To disallow the desecration of the U.S. Flag9. To force a balanced budget10.To repeal the 26th Amendment (granting the vote to 18-year olds) and

granting the right to vote to 16-year olds 11.To provide for access to medical care for all citizens12.To repeal the 2nd Amendment (right to bear arms)13.To repeal the 22nd Amendment (removing Presidential term limits)14.To make English the official language of the United States15.To prohibit the death penalty

When the Constitution was first written, some states didn’t like it…

• and they asked for a list of rights to be added

• They came up with 10.

• These are called “The Bill of Rights” – the first 10 amendments to the constitution