Dave Chappell explains the Constitution

[fazer]

“"(I) don't get mad at 'em, don't hate on 'em," he said. "Man, it's not that serious. The First Amendment is first for a reason. Second Amendment is just in case the First one doesn't work out."

 

[JohnRoberts]

yup...  smart guy(s)...

JR

 

[ruffrecords]

I know very little about the American constitution. Did the original include provision for making amendments?

Cheers

Ian

 

[Gold]

I know very little about the American constitution. Did the original include provision for making amendments?

Yes. 2/3rd's of both the House of Representatives and the Senate must pass it. Then it goes to the State Legislatures. 3/4 of the States must ratify. That's why they are so rare. It's a very high bar to get over.

 

[JohnRoberts]

I know very little about the American constitution. Did the original include provision for making amendments?

Cheers

Ian

Ding ding ding, smart fellows...

The first ten amendments affectionately known as the Bill of rights, begin with
#1 free speech (freedom of religion, etc),
#2  right to bear arms against an oppressive federal government. The right to defend oneself was considered natural law.
#3.  no soldiers quartered in private homes... no doubt related to British practices before the break up.
#4.  Each mans home is his castle, protection against invasion of privacy.
#5 one of the famous ones, a man cannot be forced to incriminate himself.
#6. Right to a speedy trial and being able to face one's accusers. (Unlike what is going on in congress right now).
#7. Right for trial by jury (of our peers),
#8 Protection against cruel and unusual punishment, excessive bail, etc.
#9. A bit of a thinker... rights enumerated by the constitution do not deny rights retained by the people.
#10,  Rights not specifically granted to the federal government (everything else) remain with the people (us).

Powerful short list of rights...  we are up to 27 amendments and these are hard to approve on purpose.  8)

JR

 

[PRR]

> Did the original include provision for making amendments?

"Federalists, who supported the Constitution's ratification, reassured those opposing its ratification by agreeing that the new government should immediately address Anti-Federalist concerns and consider amending the Constitution. This reassurance was essential to the ratification of the new form of government."  cite

Skipping options hardly/never used:

Congress by 2/3 majority in both houses, the proposal
The State Legislatures by 3/4 majority, the approval

An obscure drone, The Archivist of the United States, certifies the result.

11,770 proposals have been introduced, around 200 amendments during each two–year term, most not seriously considered. 33 passed Congress (last time was 1978), 27 passed in the States. Many proposals self-include a 7-year deadline (most approvals go in a few years), but one is technically "pending" from 1789. (If it had passed, we would now have 6,563 representatives rather than 437.)