Month: August 2009
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Constitutional Amendment 20
The 20th Amendment is essentially a technical correction to the Constitution specifying a new ending time for terms of office and also a standard procedure for filling the presidency in case of unforeseen circumstances (such as the death of a president-elect). Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon…
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White House Viral Email
The White House has decided to use a viral email (or at least an email they hope will go viral) to spread their health care reform message. In it they offer: 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage, 8 common myths about reform and 8 reasons we need health…
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Constitutional Amendment 19
Some amendments are so obvious now that they need no comment. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any States on account of sex. Some states had allowed women to vote long before 1920 and been stopped by the federal…
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Securing Liberty
photo credit: Brian Wilson Photography I got a complaint on facebook over a statement I made that later amendments take legal precedence over earlier ones where both conflictingly address the same point of law. Here was the complaint: I have a problem with the rationalization . . . that a later amendment takes precedence over…
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Constitutional Amendment 18
The Eighteenth Amendment is a great example of constitutional law. After one year from the ratification of this article, the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. I…
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The Trick to Choosing Elected Officials
In a letter to the Salt Lake Tribune Jeff Hammond offered this profound bit of insight: As some politicians age, they grow into statesmen, like Barry Goldwater; others shrivel into petty party hacks. Sens. Hatch and Bob Bennett aren’t growing. He’s right about Hatch and Bennett which is why it’s time to replace them. He’s…
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The American’s Creed
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom,…
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Bad Year for Liberty
photo credit: Leo Reynolds I consider 1913 to be a very bad year for liberty because in that year the 16th and 17th amendments were both passed. Each of these amendments is a lever that loosened the moorings that had limited the power of the federal government for 126 years to that point. It’s true…
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Constitutional Amendment 17
Following close on the heels of the sixteenth amendment (both in terms of time and impact) comes what may well be the second most fundamental alteration to the public perception and operation of our government through the Seventeenth Amendment. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each State, elected…