Why would one idea be better as an amendment rather than just be made into a law
2007-12-17 14:42:54 · 5 answers · asked by Ryan W 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
An amendment is set in stone. It's really hard to change. If they pass a law, the next Congress can repeal it.
2007-12-17 14:51:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
State and federal laws are passed by a majority vote and are amended the same way. An amendment to the federal constitution requires a 2/3 vote in Congress to propose the amendment to the consitution and then either a 3/4 vote of the state legislatures or 3/4 vote of state constitutional conventions. States have different requirements. In Texas, only a simple majority in both houses and a simple majority of voters in an election amends the constitution or a law. I'm not sure about others State's requirements on amending their constitutions both every government can amend a law (statute or code) by a majority vote. Mcart is wrong.
2007-12-17 14:53:59 · answer #2 · answered by Larry62 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A federal law is enacted by a majority vote of both houses of Congress (the Senate and the House of Representative) and the signature of the President.
An amendment requires: either (a) a two-thirds approving vote of both the House and Senate; or (b) an application from two thirds of the legislatures of the States, followed by ratification by three quarters of the States. That is why there have been only 27 Amendments and, literally, thousands of laws. Creating amendments is too bulky as the only way to create laws.
2007-12-17 14:56:16 · answer #3 · answered by mcart108 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Although laws are enough to do almost anything, Amendments trump laws. The Supreme Court will therefore over-rule any law which conflicts with the Constitution.
For example, Congress recently considered a law to deny illegal aliens born in the US citizenship. This law, if passed, will never take effect because it conflicts with the 14th amendment says that anyone born in the US is a citizen.
In order to enact an amendment, they will need 2/3 of the Congress and 3/4 of the state legislatures to ratify it. This is not easy to arrange, which is why we have few amendments.
2007-12-17 14:53:37 · answer #4 · answered by BruceN 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think it's just more difficult to make an amendment because congress passes new laws every day.
2007-12-17 14:49:48 · answer #5 · answered by Eisbär 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋