How would you change the Constitution? Here are some changes made in the past 200 years, and some changes for the future.
You may have heard the U.S. Constitution called "a living document." Though it may seem like a dry piece of paper to you, it really is designed to live and grow as the nation grows.
Even the Founding Fathers knew it might have to change with the times. Article Five of the Constitution spells it out: "The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses [the House and the Senate] shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution . . ." States were also given a chance to propose changes, or amendments. Three-fourths of the states have to approve the amendment for it to become law.
In the past 200 years, the Constitution has been amended 27 times. The 13th Amendment, in 1865, forever banned the practice of slavery. The 15th Amendment, in 1870, gave all citizens the right to vote, regardless of their race.
Americans have added laws only to take them back. In 1919, the 18th Amendment was passed. It banned the making and selling of alcohol. But it was impossible to get all people to stop drinking. Many people felt the government had no right to make laws about their private habits. So in 1933, the 21st Amendment was adopted. It repealed, or canceled, the 18th Amendment.
The nation may need amendments in the future. For example, advances in technology may change the way we communicate. Someday, we may be able to vote from our own homes, hooked into central computers through our TV sets. And what if we are able to live in space? We may need new laws to govern space life.
What kind of laws do you think we will need in the future?
I think there would be laws prohibiting demolitions or landscaping on the moon. I saw the theoretical consequences of such activities in a movie once. The world ended. I believe that there would generally be a lot of prohibitive laws to keep the advanced technology in check.
ReplyDeleteMiguel Delgado, Period 07
In the future, the types of laws that we need are the ones that do not destroy humanity. We should still have the freedom to do whatever we would like as long as it does not affect anyone in anyway. So anyone choose to go live in space or choose to live on earth, that choice won't kill anyone.
ReplyDelete-John Nguyen period 4
I think the laws we need are ones that protect our earth,such as there must be at least one town or space in a city that has all green or a nature reserve.And you can't demolish these places.Also i think we should make a law stating that we can't take away money from the school systems.And last that we should split power evenly between everyone,it can be done.
ReplyDeleteThe amendments, I believe, have made life better. They have abolished slavery, given everyone the right to vote, and let the voting age be 18. You have the choice to be a part of making a descision, which some countries don't have. I believe that there are three amendments that need to be added to the amendments of the Constitution.
ReplyDeleteThe first amendment, amendment 28, recognizing that every human being at some point in their life will require health care therefore the United States of America will recognize health care as a human right and shall establish a government funded, privately delivered health care system to insure health care from birth to death. As such, health care shall be provided based on need not soley on ability to pay.
Amendment 29 says that every person deserves an education. As education is the great equalizer that provides opportunity and growth for all regardless of race, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, the United States of America shall prioritize a public education system that is fully funded and does not discriminate base on test scores, but celebrates the individual learning capabilities of all.
My final amendment, amendment 30, is that everyone should have the right to marry, no matter what their sexual orentation. Everyone should have the right to be happy in their life. Marriage is the union of two consenting adults who wish to legally bind themselves to one another, regarless of gender.
I don't believe that a change in our way of living will truly affect our government to the point that a new amendment is needed. We can still vote, which is our extent of power in government unless one is an official, in space and/or underground. However, new communication technologies are always being invented and someday we might choose to use these technologies in voting systems. These technologies are easily tampered with, so we might need an amendment to ban these technologies in voting for government officials.
ReplyDeleteThe future of the Constitution is not all about voting and living our lives in other places than Earth, however. The government needs to realize that our well being is of utmost importance. We as a nation need to get along and cooperate; it is one of the fundamentals of group interaction. We have one fundamental down: leadership. We need an amendment focusing on the well being of everyone based on cooperation. This might entail a limitation on political put-downs, like in political ads that air near election times. Maybe this will entail having a stronger court system to solve cases in a timely manner and more fairly. Who knows? All I know is that we will need an amendment in the near future and it needs to incorporate getting along as a nation. We will have issues with each other; this is human nature. Everyone needs to learn how to have a calm, collected, political debate in which neither side is "slammed," as some say.
-Kirk Fetters, 3rd period
Kirk, you make a great point! I was thinking about how vicious our media campaigns have become in the name of the political race. What values are we delivering to our young tv viewers?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mrs. King and Kirk the media has gotten to raunchy and vicious and I believe a change must happen in that area. Ad campaigns and magazines, even T.V shows are corrupting our society! I think an amendment must be made to set limitations on to what is shown. The constant image of the "ideal beautiful human" is destructiong our social stanards and making life threatening for others.
ReplyDeletei think that we will need more laws that have to do with our technology. they should have laws that limit the use of the media to the people and how they are able to use it. in the future, they should monitor technology more so that our world doesnt become 100% reliable on technolgy.
ReplyDeleterodney hu
period 4
I believe that it is impossible to predict what laws will be necessary in the future. A few years ago we thought a huge cell phone was cool and hip, now we have touchscreens that can do more in your hand then any computers could do in that time. Our advance (technologically,and our way of thinking) has altered so rapidly that who knows what tomorrow brings. So the answer to your question Mrs. King is dependent on a persons imagination, beliefs, and desires.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Alfonso
Per. 3
Get some!
In the future I think Prop 8 should be voted on no! people should have the right to love who ever they please. just because someone likes the same sex doesnt make them any different. theyre human too. LOVE HAS NO LIMIT!
ReplyDeleteAlso I would take all the animal abusers together in one place and let them abuse eachother. Same with the sex offenders.
Also, no more pointless wars.
-TOT
We would need laws for flying cars and masaging socks because we would need to figure out the speed limits for flying cars to be safe from crashing into other flying cars or birds. And for socks that masage your feet, we would need a law added for "masage socks" which shouldn't and most likely wouldn't be allowed while driving, just like dinking and talking on the phone. If a law for "Masage socks" wouldn't be added, people would be driving either too slow, or crazy fast.
ReplyDelete