[Kragh]

If you were in the position to do one of the following would you?
Explain what you would do.

1. add a new amendment to the Constitution
2. Revise an amendment
3. Completely remove an amendment

[jadabaad]

Welcome aboard!

Your thread has been moved out of "Today in Politics" (a section specifically to discuss breaking news) and into this section where it belongs.

[sleepergun]

Where is the "All of the above" choice?

1.) I would add a new amendment (or two) to the Constitution, authorizing the Federal government to run and maintain an air and space force, and to set up an Environmental Protection Agency. The latter would come with some restrictions that would keep it from doing some of the more extreme things it does nowadays such as changing local zoning laws to accommodate the crested gnatcatcher or whatever

2.) I would revise the 2nd amendment, removing the expanatory clause (the words before "the right"). I would revise the 10th amendendment, inserting the word "explicitly" before the word "delegated". And I would modify the 14th amendment to make it clear that the Constitution's prohibitions on certain actions by the Federal government (restricting religion, speech, etc.) did not restrict equivalent actions by lower governments. I might also add a clause to the 14th (as though it weren't big enough already) pointing out that restrictions that were NOT confined to the Federal government (right to keep and bear arms, right to a jury trial etc.) applied just as fully to ALL governments in the U.S.

3.) I would completely remove the 16th, 17, 18th, and 21st amendments.

Other wish-list items:

Modify Article 1, Section 7, to give the President a line-item veto.

Insert an amendment stating that all Federal elections shall occur not earlier than, and not more than one week after, the date on which the majority of people's taxes are due (currently April 15). Not sure how to word that, but it's a nice thought. Even if the 16th amendment is removed as I'd like, there are other taxes.

Since the 16th amendment has been removed, there is no need to insert language prohibiting income tax withholding from paychecks.

That's about it.

[Kristoferson]

As long as we're in the realm of "do whatever you want to it:"

1. Scrap Congress completely, replacing it with an online system for citizens to draft and vote on legislation.
2. Reduce the Presidential term of office to 12 months.
3. Get rid of the Electoral College and use a straight popular vote like everyone else.
4. Insert an amendment prohibiting Federal or State income taxes on any household with a combined income below the top 15% of US households.

[Styparty]

Cool topic. In order, I would:

1. Repeal Section 2 of the 14th Amendment. Most of it has been nullified already, but it is still used as the basis for denying voting rights to ex-felons, and nothing is more important in a representative democracy than universal suffrage.

2. Repeal the 22nd Amendment. Again, it is just antithetical to the principles of democracy. The people should be able to elect their leaders, especially if they have already proven to be great. (There's no reason to keep the next FDR out of office when he or she is clearly the best candidate.) Also, having unlimited terms forces a greater degree of accountability on the president.

3. Repeal the 12th Amendment. The framers were just wrong about the masses. The Electoral College is not essential. A popular vote is better.

4. Give DC representation in Congress.

5. Ratify a privacy amendment, to end this attack on the judiciary, and more importantly, on the public by inconsiderate, power-hungry politicians.

[Stainditnew]

It's not that the constitution has defects or nedds changing, bu that the way it is interpreted is often stretched.

I would add one amendment, not numbered, which would define the vision or goal of the US. Define what it is we want this nation to be. Then all laws would have to be assessed based on how they meet this goal.

[affozyBoomi]

I would add one amendment, not numbered, which would define the vision or goal of the US. Define what it is we want this nation to be. Then all laws would have to be assessed based on how they meet this goal.

What you describe is already there. It's called the preamble.

[masterboyz]

If you were in the position to do one of the following would you?
Explain what you would do.

1. add a new amendment to the Constitution
2. Revise an amendment
3. Completely remove an amendment

Since we are talking abuot a fantasy benevolent dictatorship, I would do the following: reward my friends and punish my enemies.

[art_fan_12]

I would add language to the 1st amendment creating a very clear and explicit wall between church and state. I would add an amendment banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

[Frjrbefd]

I would add a amendment banning nazi symbols.