Twenty-Seventh Amendment

[Congress Cannot Raise its Own Pay]

-Proposed by Congress on September 25, 1789; Declared ratified on May 8, 1992

"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 ensures that members of Congress cannot raise their own pay. The only way their pay can be raised is after their term is up in which case a raise can be voted upon. 

The 200 years it took for this amendment to get ratified just seems to be a sign of how corrupt our government just might be. In my opinion, this is just proof of our government working for themselves rather than for the good of our society. I think the only reason this amendment was passed was because congressmen were starting to realize how annoyed their constituents were and that they would not be able to get reelected unless they appeased the public. 

This cartoon seems to be a very accurate depiction of our society. Although, especially during the current recession, the majority of America's citizens are getting poorer, our congressmen and other big-time politicians are just getting richer. 

Although congressmen cannot raise their own pay, they are allowed a "Cost of Living," which continues to make them richer while the rest of our society could use that money so much more. If that money were used say for our school system, then programs would stop being cut and teachers would be able to keep their jobs...the list could go on. 

This picture just proves my earlier point. Members of Congress just continue to make money while even our employed Americans are getting poorer. 

• How is it that these people keep getting elected to office? 
• Do they even care about benefiting America? 
• ...or are they just going to continue working for themselves and their own personal gains?

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

-Proposed by Congress on March 23, 1971; Declared ratified on July 1, 1971


Section 1
[Eighteen-Year Old Vote]
"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 an state on account of age."
Section 2
[Power to Enforce this Article]
"The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

This amendment allows eighteen year old citizens to vote. It only makes sense that if you can go to war to fight and run the risk of dying for your country, you should be able to have a say in the voting process. 

It seems that many eligible voters simply take that privilege for granted. How many 18 year olds (and up) to this day, still have yet to even register for voting?

"Don't blame us, we didn't vote"....really?
All the eligible non-voters are in fact just as responsible as the voters for election outcomes. How can our democracy accurately be portraying the views of our society when so many people don't even cast their vote? Furthermore, those people who do not vote, should not have any right to criticize our government. If they don't take the time to vote, they shouldn't be allowed to waste other people's time with their wasted opinions.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

-Proposed by Congress on July 6, 1965; Declared ratified on February 10, 1967

Section 1
[Vice President to Become President]
"In case of the removal of the President from office or his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President."
Section 2
[Choice of a New Vice President]
"Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, then the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take the office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of Congress."
Section 3
[President May Declare Own Disability]
"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
[Alternate Procedures to Declare and to End Presidential Disability]
"Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principle 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 declarationi 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 principle 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 no in session. If the 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." 

The 25th Amendment is pretty much just for housekeeping. It was passed to clean up some uncertainties in Article II for the presidential succession. If the president dies, resigns or is removed from office, the vice president takes over. If the vice president dies, resigns or is removed from office, the president can choose a new VP, subject to confirmation by Congress. If the president submits written notice that he is no longer able to carry out the duties of his office, for whatever reason, the VP takes over. And last but not least, if the VP and a majority of the cabinet all agree that the president is no longer capable of carrying out the duties of his office, the VP can temporarily take over as Acting President. If the president disputes his removal from office, the Congress must decide whether the president should regain the powers of his office or whether the VP should remain in charge.

If Obama was not born in America, does that mean he must be impeached? Does that mean that Joe Biden must become the next president?

Although many people are calling for his impeachment, mainly from the Republican party, would his successor, the VP according to this amendment, actually appease them? He's Obama's VP for a reason, therefore he would have the same views as President Obama, which really should not bode too well for anyone calling for the president's impeachment.

...Besides the language used in this video which is probably inappropriate for a class project, I think this is a good video to support this amendment. This man clearly has many reasons for why President Obama is unfit for office. Like I mentioned above, if the VP were to take over office, how much more content are those against Obama going to be?

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

-Proposed by Congress on August 27, 1962; Declared ratified on January 23, 1964

Section 1
[ANTI-POLL TAX]
"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 of 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
[Power to Enforce this Article]
"The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

The 24th Amendment makes poll taxes illegal for federal elections. Poll taxes are taxes that some states began charging during Reconstruction as a way to keep African Americans from voting. Later, the Supreme Court extended protection against poll taxes to include state elections, citing the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. 

"In January 1964, the 24th Amendment to the Constitution abolished the poll tax. A poll tax was a fee you had to pay at the time of voting. No money, no vote. So, rich people voted, poor people didn't. 44 years later, we have a sort of poll tax: long lines. LONG LINES. How many hours did it "cost" you to vote? 2? 4? 6? HOW MUCH INCOME DID YOU LOSE? So, you need the money, or IF YOU CAN'T TAKE THE LONG WAIT, GUESS WHAT? YOU DON'T VOTE. You want to vote, but you can't afford to. Nonvoters in Ohio, 2004, cost John Kerry the Presidency...Obama voters, no matter what, no matter how long, please, please don't go home. Wait as long as you have to. But do NOT go home without casting your vote...Vote, then go home. VOTE. VOTE... It is time for CHANGE. We, the People have the POWER to make that CHANGE..." (excerpt from video description on YouTube)

Although long lines do cost people their time, and could get in the way of them working and earning money, is it really fair to call it a poll tax? 

In my opinion, its not. A poll tax was established by the government. These long lines are not being set by government officials. They aren't trying to keep people who cannot miss work from voting. It's simply bad luck....and maybe just a sign that its time for a new voting method to come about? But, no, long lines are not a poll tax, just an inconvenience.  

Even though taking a test to vote doesn't require paying a tax, as is outlawed in this amendment, couldn't it be argued to be unconstitutional? If the poll tax originated to keep African Americans from voting, wouldn't taking a test to keep ignorant people away from voting be basically the same thing?

Twenty-Third Amendment

-Proposed by Congress on June 16, 1960; Declared ratified on March 29, 1961

Section 1
[Electoral College Votes for the District of Columbia]
"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 it 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 twelfth article of amendment."
Section 2
[Power to Enforce this Article]
"The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

This amendment is basically recognizing Washington DC's right to vote. It allows for the citizens of the District of Columbia to vote for electors for president and vice president of the United sttes.

The Electoral College was designed to only grant votes to states. Because Washington DC is not a state, until 1961 people who lived in the District of Columbia were unable to vote for president. This amendment gives DC residents a number of presidential electors. They are still unable to send voting representatives or senators to Congress.
The amendment restricts the district to the number of Electors of the least populous state, irrespective of its own population. As of 2010, that state is Wyoming, which has three Electors. However, even without this clause, the district's present population would only entitle it to three Electors. Since the passage of this amendment, the District's electoral votes have gone towards the Democratic candidates in every presidential election.

It just doesn't really make sense to me that prior to this amendment, the people in the very epicenter of our political system, were unable to vote, regardless if they met the 26th Amendment's qualification that 18 year old citizens are eligible to vote.

Twenty-Second Amendment

-Proposed by Congress on March 21, 1947; Declared ratified on February 27, 1951

Section 1 
[Tenure of President Limited]
"No person shall be elected to the office of 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 the 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 fro holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term."
Section 2
[Ratification Within Seven Years]
"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."

The 22nd Amendment limited the number of terms anyone could serve as president to two. However, to account for individuals who might have taken over as president in the middle of a term, a person could serve as president for ten years, or another 2 terms after taking over.

 

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-hj5/show 

H.J. RES 5

REMOVING TERM LIMITS FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT

This is a Constitutional amendment to remove the limit on the number of terms one may serve as President. It effectively would repeal the 22nd Amendment. 

I find it very unlikely that Obama will somehow manage to repeal this amendment. But it is good food for thought. What if this amendment were to ever be repealed? What if the future President was in office for multiple back to back to back terms? If we have someone in power for a good 12-16+ years wouldn't that be opening up the doors for a type of dictatorship, despite the democracy America was founded for?

 This amendment was passed after Franklin Roosevelt was elected to a record four terms as president. He broke the two-term precedent set by George Washington.

Twenty-First Amendment

-Proposed by Congress on February 20, 1933; Declared ratified on December 5, 1933

Section 1
[NATIONAL LIQUOR PROHIBITION REPEALED]
"The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States hereby repealed."
Section 2
[Transportation of Liquor into "Dry" States]
"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
[Ratification Within Seven Years]
"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."

This amendment is just repealing the 18th Amendment and making alcohol legal again.

 

They pretty much nailed it. This amendment is really quite simple. No more 18th. Bring on the booze. 

I'm sure many people can think of benefits of outlawing alcohol. However, alcohol is so firmly implanted in our society, its hard to imagine a time when it wasn't legal. Although I am inclined to argue it seems unconstitutional to ever have outlawed it in the first place, I guess people could just as easily argue it's the same as those who want to keep marijuana illegal and those who are fighting for it not to be.