Thank you for viewing my blog! I hope you had some fun learning a bit about the amendments, turns out amendment songs are quite entertaining and hilarious. Here's on last one....enjoy!!
A great summary of...ALL 27 AMENDMENTS!!!
Friday, December 4, 2015
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment:
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 deals with the pay Senators and Representatives receive. A senator can not raise or lower their pay, and it is not determined until the election has occurred.
A funny interpretation of the 27th amendment, with a touch of sarcasm! This shows how some American's resent how much money Senators have the potential to make. The 27th amendment requires us to have election before any pay raises can occur.
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment:
Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.
Section 2.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
This simply sets the legal age for voting in the United States. Eighteen is the legal age for being an adult as well. Congress has the power to make sure people at or above the age of eighteen always have this right.
This video is a nice peek into a moment of history. President Nixon announces the 26th amendment, and welcomes a new group of legal voters. A younger generation of voices.
The ages 18-21 can get a bit controversial. At the age of 18 a person acquires many new legal rights. Using those rights responsibily and abiding to the law is imporant at any age, but making sure you know what rights you during these transitional years is a good thing.
The Twenty-Fifth Amendment
The Twenty-Fifth Amendment:
Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3.
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.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal 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 declaration 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 principal 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 not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if 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.
This amendment solidifies the process that must happen if the President dies. Typically the Vice President would become President, but if the Vice President is vacant, the President can select another Vice President which is then approved by Congress. The President also has the power to allow the Vice-President to fill in for certain circumstances. However, the Vice President and Congress have the power to remove the President for office, under reasonable circumstances with a 2/3 vote approved from Congress, if the President see's this as unfit.
Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
Section 3.
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.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal 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 declaration 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 principal 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 not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if 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.
This amendment solidifies the process that must happen if the President dies. Typically the Vice President would become President, but if the Vice President is vacant, the President can select another Vice President which is then approved by Congress. The President also has the power to allow the Vice-President to fill in for certain circumstances. However, the Vice President and Congress have the power to remove the President for office, under reasonable circumstances with a 2/3 vote approved from Congress, if the President see's this as unfit.
There have been a few instances in history where the President resigned, was assassinated, died for other reasons, or had the Vice President fill in for periods of time. It is important that citizens are aware of what happens when this type of transition occurs, because it can be traumatizing to lose a President. It is also a good thing to have a back up plan in when it comes to times of crisis. The President is human as well, and it is reassuring for them to know the Vice-President will be albe to maintain duties.
Resignation:
Presidential Assassinations:
Both videos are great examples of scenarios which would require the Vice-President to step in. Nixon's resignation video, shows why a President might consider resigning. And the assassination video shows that unfortuntely, far too many President's have been killed in the past. This is a reality that all President's face. The 25th amendment makes sure America always has a secure leader in place at all time.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment
Section 1.
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 in 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.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The poll tax kept many people, particularily African American's from voting. Though everyone had the right to vote, political power was minimized by the poll tax because people could not afford to vote. The 24th amendment recognized that poll taxes were a barrier to voting and repealed it allowing people to vote without paying a prerequisite fee.
This cartoon, displays how many people were affected by the poll tax and also shows how limited the people were. The poll tax only allowed for a portion of citizens to have a political voice, therefore the voice of the nation was impaired and biased.
This epic video summarizes the frustration of having financial struggles get in the way of voting. At the time, African American's had a smaller income than most whites, making it difficult for them to participate in voting. It shows that this amendment was a big step toward equal rights.
The Twenty-Third Amendment
The Twenty-Third Amendment:
Section 1.
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 if 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.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Washington DC may have electors in the Electoral College, as if it were a state. There are some restrictions saying the DC cant have more electors than the least populated state. Although DC is not a state, the appointed members will have the same duties, responsibilites, and powers that electors would have in a state. Washington DC now allowed people to vote for the President and electors.
Read the Article: Capital Injustice
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/opinion/29masur.html?_r=0
Excerpts from the beginning and end of the article,
I recommend reading the entire article, but the two excerpts posted above specifically relate to how to 23rd amendment affects the world today. She notes, "The anniversary is worth remembering, both because the amendment was an important step toward full political equality for citizens of the nation’s capital and because it was frustratingly incomplete." The article also notes that there are still obstacles of inequality today, regardless of the many Constitutional amendments that aim to advance equality and rights.
Washington DC may have electors in the Electoral College, as if it were a state. There are some restrictions saying the DC cant have more electors than the least populated state. Although DC is not a state, the appointed members will have the same duties, responsibilites, and powers that electors would have in a state. Washington DC now allowed people to vote for the President and electors.
Read the Article: Capital Injustice
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/opinion/29masur.html?_r=0
Excerpts from the beginning and end of the article,
I recommend reading the entire article, but the two excerpts posted above specifically relate to how to 23rd amendment affects the world today. She notes, "The anniversary is worth remembering, both because the amendment was an important step toward full political equality for citizens of the nation’s capital and because it was frustratingly incomplete." The article also notes that there are still obstacles of inequality today, regardless of the many Constitutional amendments that aim to advance equality and rights.
The Twenty-Second Amendment
The Twenty-Second Amendment:
Section 1.
No person shall be elected to the office of the 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 from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.
Section 2.
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.
This breaks down the presidential term limits. Two terms, each of four years is the maximum amount of time a person can be President. Anyone who has filled in for the President for two years, for example the Vice-President, cannot run for President again. This did not apply to the President in office during the ratification of this amendment.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only President to run for 4 terms, an equivalent of 16 years. Up till this point, previous President's ran only for 2 terms, following in the steps of George Washington. During FDR's unique length in the office he faced major crisis' like the Great Depression and WWII. At the time, America needed a steady leader to guide them out of such challenging times. However, after FDR American's realized it is better to have a new President every 2 terms. It is refreshing to bring new leadership and ideas to the Presidency.
At (.47 seconds) the video points out three very critical reasons why we should limit the Presidency to 2 terms.
1. Dictatorship
2. Promotes Freedom
Supports Our Individuality
It continues with an excellent point, "It keeps America from turmoil that it has previously experienced." Although history repeats itself, having different a new President can prevent negative events from happening again and leaves room for great new potential.
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