How many amendments in the last 230 years?
27
13th amendment
Abolished slavery
19th amendment
Women voting rights
14th amendment
Equal protection under the law
1st amendment
Freedom of speech/movement
2nd amendment
right to firearm
What is the congress threshold to pass an amendment?
2/3
What is the state ratification threshhold?
3/4
Example of someone trying to suggest a new amendment
Tom Marino introduced an amendment to amend Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution to change the terms of Representatives from two years to four
Did Not go past the subcommittee stage
What are 2 issuse with it being too difficult to change?
Led to the unelected courts to interpret the constitution
Doesn’t change with recent times
What crisis showed the protection of rights
During times of crisis (9/11) there were calls to limit freedom of speech (On critical govt or Islam), but the entrenched 1st amendment protects this from occurring
4 cases were rights from the amendment process were protected
McDonald v Chicago (2nd)
US v Lopez (2nd)
District of Columbia vHeller (2nd)
SFFA v Harvard (14th)
What voting amendment was blocked
The DC voting rights amendment was blocked. Many do not have the right to vote
How many amendments have passed in the last 30 years?
0
Prevents tyranny of the majority
Line Item Veto Amendment failed, which would have limited checks and balances on a populist president claiming to rule with national mandate)
Federal Marriage Amendment failed, which would have denied sexual minorities marriage rights
Protects fundamental rights (
Flag Desecration Amendment was blocked, thus protecting free speech
Birthright Citizenship Abolition Amendment failed, thus protecting 14th amendment.)
