"Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
Section 3. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
Section 4. The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.
Section 5. Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.
Section 6. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission."
This amendment outlines the succession to the presidency if a president dies or is unable to fulfill his or her duty. It also outlines the dates of which a president's and congressman's terms end and begin.
The below video is the presidential inauguration and address of President Barack Obama in January 20, 2009. The date that this amendment outlines as the date that a new president will take office.
This video below is a speech given by Franklin Delano Roosevelt the first president to take office after the Twentieth Amendment was ratified. In this speech FDR outlines a second Bill of Rights that he wished to add to the Constitution. Unfortunately, FDR died before he could see this Bill through. I find this speech inspiring and it is my life aspiration to, though legislation, provide the rights outlined in FDR's bill to all Americans.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Nineteenth Amendment
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
Though it seemed intuitive that women would have been allowed the right to vote with the incorporation of amendments like the fifteenth amendment, it was not until the 19th amendment was ratified some fifty years later that women suffrage was granted.
The below video is a clever little prank. A guy goes around on a college campus asking students to sign a petition to "end women's suffrage." Obviously these students didn't pay attention in their American government courses because they sign the petition saying "women's suffrage is really bad." Someone should tell them that "suffrage" means the right to vote, "suffering" or "opression" is probably what they are confusing it with.
This video here is a fun School House Rocks video about women's suffrage.
Though it seemed intuitive that women would have been allowed the right to vote with the incorporation of amendments like the fifteenth amendment, it was not until the 19th amendment was ratified some fifty years later that women suffrage was granted.
The below video is a clever little prank. A guy goes around on a college campus asking students to sign a petition to "end women's suffrage." Obviously these students didn't pay attention in their American government courses because they sign the petition saying "women's suffrage is really bad." Someone should tell them that "suffrage" means the right to vote, "suffering" or "opression" is probably what they are confusing it with.
This video here is a fun School House Rocks video about women's suffrage.
Eighteenth Amendment
"Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress."
Prohibition. Obviously the most ridiculous of all 27 amendments. This amendment banned the distribution of alcohol in the United States. Drinking has been a part of our history. It's part of what makes us Americans!
Below is a Budweiser commercial with their famous Clydesdale. These horses have been with us for over a hundred years!
Drinking has been a part of American culture for a very long time and studies show it is becoming an increasingly more popular activity. The below link is to an article that states the number of Americans who drinks is at an all time high. Drink on!
BEER!!!
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress."
Prohibition. Obviously the most ridiculous of all 27 amendments. This amendment banned the distribution of alcohol in the United States. Drinking has been a part of our history. It's part of what makes us Americans!
Below is a Budweiser commercial with their famous Clydesdale. These horses have been with us for over a hundred years!
Drinking has been a part of American culture for a very long time and studies show it is becoming an increasingly more popular activity. The below link is to an article that states the number of Americans who drinks is at an all time high. Drink on!
BEER!!!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Seventeenth Amendment
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution."
This amendment outlines the parameters of the senate. Also, this amendment makes it so that the people directly elect senators instead of state governments electing senators.
The tea bagging imbecile in this video wishes to repeal the 17th amendment and go back to having the state legislatures vote for senators. Thanks god for the Tea Party. A whole group of idiots parading around the country? That is awesome.
This video is about senate campaign ads, ads that are put in place to affect our choices as voters. As we the people have the responsibility to elect senators, these ads are created to directly affect our votes.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution."
This amendment outlines the parameters of the senate. Also, this amendment makes it so that the people directly elect senators instead of state governments electing senators.
The tea bagging imbecile in this video wishes to repeal the 17th amendment and go back to having the state legislatures vote for senators. Thanks god for the Tea Party. A whole group of idiots parading around the country? That is awesome.
This video is about senate campaign ads, ads that are put in place to affect our choices as voters. As we the people have the responsibility to elect senators, these ads are created to directly affect our votes.
Sixteenth Amendment
"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
This amendment allowed for the national government to collect income taxes, that do not have to be a flat rate, and do not have to be based on census statistics. This amendment opened the door fro a progressive income tax system that allows the government to collect more taxes from the richest members of our society and less from the poorest members.
The video below is an interview with Harry Reid who is purporting that the American tax system is voluntary. WOW.
The below video is a HILLARIOUS government propaganda cartoon for income taxes that stars Donald Duck. Enjoy!
This amendment allowed for the national government to collect income taxes, that do not have to be a flat rate, and do not have to be based on census statistics. This amendment opened the door fro a progressive income tax system that allows the government to collect more taxes from the richest members of our society and less from the poorest members.
The video below is an interview with Harry Reid who is purporting that the American tax system is voluntary. WOW.
The below video is a HILLARIOUS government propaganda cartoon for income taxes that stars Donald Duck. Enjoy!
Fifteenth Amendment
"Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
This amendment guaranteed the right to vote to African American men and other minorities. The south was able to evade allowing blacks to vote by forcing blacks to pay poll taxes or take literacy tests before they voted. Though it would seem logical that women would at this time also be allowed to vote, however, that was not the case. Women were still not allowed to vote for 50 years.
The video below is a video from the Rachel Maddow show in which she talks about a new sort of "poll tax." This poll tax she speaks of is having to wait up to even 8 hours to vote, which is another way to prevent voters from casting their ballots.
This video is an analysis of the Vote or Die campaign, headed by hip hop artists like Diddy, prominent members of the african american community. This campaign was put in place to encourage young voters, especially young black voters, to gt out and cast their ballots.
This amendment guaranteed the right to vote to African American men and other minorities. The south was able to evade allowing blacks to vote by forcing blacks to pay poll taxes or take literacy tests before they voted. Though it would seem logical that women would at this time also be allowed to vote, however, that was not the case. Women were still not allowed to vote for 50 years.
The video below is a video from the Rachel Maddow show in which she talks about a new sort of "poll tax." This poll tax she speaks of is having to wait up to even 8 hours to vote, which is another way to prevent voters from casting their ballots.
This video is an analysis of the Vote or Die campaign, headed by hip hop artists like Diddy, prominent members of the african american community. This campaign was put in place to encourage young voters, especially young black voters, to gt out and cast their ballots.
Fourteenth Amendment
"Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article."
This amendment encompasses a lot of different ideas. It lays the parameters for citizenship, due process, provides equal protection by the laws for all, it talks about incorporation or incorporating the amendments of the United States Constitution to the states, and it outlines the apportionment of representatives.
The video below tells about the difficulties of defining citizenship before this amendment, and the affects this amendment had on citizens.
This next video tell about our rights as citizens through due process, and how large information firms like Google may be inhibiting those rights.
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article."
This amendment encompasses a lot of different ideas. It lays the parameters for citizenship, due process, provides equal protection by the laws for all, it talks about incorporation or incorporating the amendments of the United States Constitution to the states, and it outlines the apportionment of representatives.
The video below tells about the difficulties of defining citizenship before this amendment, and the affects this amendment had on citizens.
This next video tell about our rights as citizens through due process, and how large information firms like Google may be inhibiting those rights.
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