What would you put into the constitution if you could build a new nation from scratch?

Question

Assume we have a new chunk of land, a man made island half way between Bermuda and the Azores, or a tear-formed colony on the Moon or Mars.

Answer 1

That the costitution itself is not up for interpretation and means exactly what it says.

Answer 2

Big question - for one I'd clarify the congresses power to declare war. It's an all out war, a limited war, or a police action. The President then would have broad power in all out war, and increasingly less for the next two. Perhaps the SCOTUS might be more tasked with oversight of these provisions, or they would expire quickly with up or down 2/3's majorities required in each the house and senate.

Just typing out loud.

Answer 3

Using the U.S. Constitution as a model, I would:

Outlaw Communism/socialism.

Make English the official language of the United States.

Acknowledge the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.

Employment or admittance to any school/university on racial or ethnic grounds (i.e, "affirmative action") would be outlawed.

Clarify the Establishment Clause (because libs have twisted it into something it is not) and make the Second Amendment even more clear than it is (because libs have twisted it into something it is not).

Define when a warrant is needed and when it is not.

Define "cruel and unusual punishment" more accurately.

Justices of the Supreme Court would still be appointed, but limit their terms to 10 or 20 year terms and not life appointments.

Senators would have 4 year terms, not 6.

Representatives would have 4 year terms, not 2.

Make the Amendment process easier/smoother.

Answer 4

I would keep the Constitution as is but add a balanced budget amendment, a 6 month session of congress, term limits and eliminate retirement benefits for Congress. And for good measure, make them work for minimum wage.

Answer 5

All candidates get the same amount of money to run a campaign. Which would help to get money out of politics abnd bring more focus on the issues

Answer 6

I would ensure the constitution named me as an absolute monarch

Answer 7

the laws are as stated and are not up for debate or negoiation and apply to everyone.

the official language of this country is ________ and no effort will be made to accomodate those living here who do not wish to attempt to learn it.

goverment aide is available to those in need for a short period of time, we are not here to fund a candy walk life for those who dont wish to help themselves. we will not give a family aide for more than a year, or more than once in a five year period.

(and while you are recieving aide you MUST provide proof of looking for work or getting your life on track or you will be CUT OFF and not reinstated. Also, you must proove you are using this government money for rent, food, and life essentials only...any new luxeries obtained in this time will be scrutinized and proof of where it came from will need to be presented. If found to be purchased with aide money you will be cut off and not reinstated.)

Answer 8

Limit all elected officials to a single term - 4 years

Make Judgeships for a limited time instead of for life - allow each newly elected Standing President to have a peremptory removal of any standing Supreme Court Justice, including Chief Justice

Give the President the Line Item Veto for the purpose of removing riders tacked onto any Bill

Make English the official language, and to force anyone naturalized to be fluent in it except if deaf/dumb/paralyzed/physically unable/insane or mentally incapacitated

Make the interpretation of The Constitution Strict

Make the Executive Branch be the agent of the execution of laws without personalities and disallow any political parties whatsoever

Make the Judicial Branch impotent in creating "bench" legislation

Make Congress people totally devoid of communicating with anyone while voting is taking place on Congressional Bills except at the end of deliberation when the vote is being counted - and outlaw all Special Interest Groups

Make it illegal for any elected official to receive salary within 2 years of running for office or at any time after they retire - make them wards of the State subject to a living expense pool based on taxes - and, except for their Congressional salary, make it illegal for them to make money in any other way while a Congress person, except if by musical composition, Nobel peace prize, invention, etc. Make a cap on election campaigns of ten million dollars -when it's gone, NO MORE

Emphasize that the Nation was founded on rights granted by a Creator, and that although no particular endorsement of any sect or establishment of a State religion is permitted, that nonetheless the belief in God (or its lack thereof) and its expression has a rightful place in all matters public and private; and as the Commandements were given to Moses by Jahweh and are a legacy bestowed on all humanity, regardlesss of religious affiliation or lack thereof, to post theTen Commandements in all Government buildings, starting with a public monument in the Capital Mall; and as a belief in God is that of the Majority of the Nation - as such it reflects the Majority's cultural background, ethos and morals, it should be publicly permitted

Allow any State not wishing to continue within the U.S. to be able to lawfully secede without interference

Limit the role of Government specifically to not bloat the Bureaucracy - and state that the mission of Government is not to solve personal problems per se, but rather to attend to issues that only affect the Nation at large as such, for example: balances of trade, war, pestilence, copyright infringement, food safety; let laws regarding welfare assistance and personal issues be left to the States and Localities

Remove the term "Cruel and unusual" punishment. Logically ANY new punishment is "unusual". Keep in "cruel" for any offense whose punishment is short of the Death Penalty; decree that "cruel" is moot in the case of the Death Penalty, as although the killing itself could be viewed as cruel, yet nobody actually (except the person being executed) could state with certainty (and maybe not even then) whether it was or was not cruel - so it is moot

Establish a maximum number of immigrants due to the unsustainable numbers that continually move here - if need be, provide for the cutting off of all immigration of any kind; and provide for a mandatory "first location" for all new immigrants based on the needs of the country, not on that of the immigrant

Deny habeus Corpus to non-citizens unless they are under process to becoming naturalized - any conviction carries the option of being deported; provide for optional suspension of due process at the option of the non-citizen with the concomitant provision of deportation in lieu of guilt

Deny full rights to minors under 18, except for fair working laws, child protection and testifying in courts (note: driving is a privilege not a right)

Make it a felony prosecutable by jail to actually burn the American Flag, but allow the exercise of free speech wherein it is maintained that such an act should be allowed

And finally: make it illegal for lawyers to run for office

Answer 9

Keep religion and politics separate from one another.

Answer 10

No law could be enacted by judicial fiat