What new amendments do you think should be added or changed to the old amendments?

Question

If you could change any of the old amendments or add any new amendments to the old amendments what would you add or change?

Answer 1

I would make it a death penalty offense to steal, rape, molest children, traffic in drugs across national boundaries, and enter the U.S. illegally.

Answer 2

1) I would move the impeachment process out of the political area. I would better outline in the amendment some of the circumstances for impeachment (lying to start wars for no reason, intentionally violating any provision of the constitution, etc.) and some circumstances that are allowable (lying about one's sex life to prevent embarrassment with family), and let any citizen file charges of impeachment. First this would be reviewed by a panel of neutral judges who would consider the evidence and see if there is a case. Then it would go to another panel of neutral judges who would conduct a trial. (I would say the Supreme Court but maybe now this isn't the best idea.)

2) Additionally, I would add an amendment so that if a president or other officeholder(s) is later proven to have won their election through fraud and cheating, all actions resulting from that illegal officeholder would be reversed to the extent possible. This way we can overturn most of the bad laws passed during the Bush administration, and get rid of all the judges he appointed, including those in the Supreme Court.

3) Severe financial penalties and possibly prison for politicians who intentionally lie or mislead, including the news media, political organizations, non-political organizations, and corporations. For people in office this would include impeachment.

4) An amendment legalizing all activities done for pleasure by an adult or consenting adults, provided they do not harm anyone other than those directly involved. (This would legalize all sexual activity and drugs, but not prevent anti-smoking laws. Laws could still be passed to prevent things from being done in public or in the presence of children. Laws could also be passed to prevent smoking outdoors or in private apartments if children were present and/or the smoke affected other people.)

5) Put the Roe vs. Wade decision into the constitution, legalizing abortion up to 6 months.

6) Make the First Amendment stronger and more clear and detailed, so conservatives can't say "this isn't what they meant". This would especially include separation of church and state, and also freedom of the press.

7) Specify mandatory prison sentences for those violating the First Amendment. For example, if a public school is teaching scripture and conducting prayers, an organization has to file suit. The best outcome is that the practice will stop, and perhaps those involved can recover legal expenses. But this doesn't punish the perpetrators and provide an incentive not to do that again in the future. A mandatory 10 year prison sentence for all involved would do a lot to discourage this.

Answer 3

Gee, I wonder how many differences of opinion I have with Alan S? Let me count the ways, .............

I believe in repealing and replacing the 14th Amendment.

Over 200 years ago, Justice Iredell (one of G. Washington's original appointees to the Supreme Court) said that one of the core purposes of constitutions in the U.S. (meaing both the federal and state constitutions) is "to define with precision the objects of the legislative power and to restrain its exercise within marked and settled boundaries."

Now, obviously we'll have to forgive Justice Iredell for not predicting that some 70 years after he wrote those words, an amendment would be adopted which imposes rules upon the state governments but the rules are not the slightest bit "precise."

And the gross abuse of that amendment by the judiciary has been just plain .... well, .... gross.

We need a new version of the 14th which will define MORE PRECISELY what the state governments may NOT do.

Please read more details in this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aq_nHk5njXLSjZHvtOzSR3jty6IX?qid=20060922074009AAB54Qd
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Answer 4

The provision of the 14th amendment making a baby a US citizen just by being born in the US should be changed to one which states that one or both of the child's parents must be already citizens or have applied for citizenship. This is to prevent illegal immigrants from dropping into US hospitals to just have their babies become citizens and find a backdoor to citizenship for themselves.

Answer 5

I personally think we are currently fine as is.