If Washington D.C. was predominately white they would have been all for it. Hundreds of thousands of black constituents have no one to represent them. This is how much Republicans think of minorities. When Democrats take over the White House in 2009 this will go before a vote again and pass. Abraham Lincoln would be ashamed of what his party has become.
2007-09-26 17:52:45 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
It is doable. 3/4the of the states would have to ratify the bill to make it a constitutional amendment. Utah would get an extra congressional seat so the balance of power would not change. It will go up for a vote again. A woman's right to vote was not in the constitution. That doesn't mean that the constitution cannot be changed. This is what amendments are for.
2007-09-26 18:43:04 · update #1
You know there is a simple solution to this process that would end all of this useless debate about representation for the District of Columbia. All that needs to be done is to cede back most of the District to the State of Maryland (previously the part south of the Potomac was ceded back to the State of Virginia).
While the Constitution sets a maximum size for the District (10 square miles), it does not set a minimum size. It could easily be reduced to just covering the Mall, the White House, Capitol Hill, and the Supreme Court.
Of course, that solution is too sensible. Republicans don't like it because it would result in an additional seat or two for Maryland (and would probably be represented by a Democrat). Democrats don't like it because it would take away their ability to use the denial of voting rights to residents of the District and how we are the only major democracy to do so.
2007-09-26 18:57:59 · answer #1 · answered by Tmess2 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It has nothing to do with minorities. The District of Columbia is not a state it is the Capitol of the United states it should be represented by all the states. It would take more than a bill to change that it would take a Constitutional Amendment and that can't be done by congress. To try and give it the same power as a state would be foolish. That would be like giveing NY City or Atlanta Georgia their own congressman. Why dont they do that?
BB
2007-09-27 01:06:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Race has nothing to do with it. The Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution provides for representatives from the several states. The last time I checked, Washington DC was not a state.
If anyone should be ashamed, it should be you. You posted a question making false accusations when the answer is obvious to anyone who finished grade school civics class.
Edit: This was not a proposed constitutional amendment. It was called a "voting rights" bill. The bottom line is that it does not pass constitutional muster. The Supreme Court would be left with no option but to overturn it.
2007-09-27 00:57:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
A bill like this would be completely unconstitutional. There's no point in wasting time passing it just to have it get struck down in court. Even its supporters know that it's unconstitutional, they're just pushing it through to try and get people to vote for them.
2007-09-27 00:56:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have news for you they have been blocking it for along long time, DC was set up not to be a state they wanted it separate from the politics that are inherent in the state system. they are actually trying to follow the rules
this time
2007-09-27 02:59:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Typical Republican strategy.
Next Up: Craigs list found to contain cruising bathrooms
2007-09-27 01:17:57 · answer #6 · answered by Lefty 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋