Posted on 07/07/2013 5:42:17 PM PDT by neverdem
Then the chances that this republic survives are slim and none.
Article Five of the United States Constitution allows for two methods of proposing amendments: through Congress or through a convention called for by the states. The second method is never done as it would force a constitutional convention, which is regarded as too dangerous, as it could rewrite the entire constitution.
Few proposed amendments pass the first constitutional hurdle: approval by two-thirds majorities in both Houses of Congress. Then they are sent to the states for ratification by the state legislatures, with or without a time limit for doing so.
There are two possible methods of ratification, and only Congress may choose which method to use:
Ratification by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states (38 states). Such proposals sometimes have a ratification deadline. Or,
Ratification by state conventions of three-fourths of the states. Only the Twenty-first Amendment has used this method.
Oh, I think it will survive...I don't see that a revolution, civil war, or collapse of the State is likely anytime soon. I do think it will inevitably change though, and not in a good way (by my standards, at least).
Yep, because you have a select few liberal moneybags and assorted “special interests” that bankroll these career criminals nowadays.
I’d propose a law that would prohibit campaign contributions from across state lines meaning that treasoncrats like chuck schumer get cut off at the knees from the hollywood donations they depend on.
Then you move to a state where people vote properly.
That a Capitol idea! At least I like it. I think every state has a lieutenant governor or equivalent.
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I am quite skeptical that appointing Senators would change much of anything for Conservatives.
The last 25 years have seen betrayal after betrayal by alleged Republican Senators.
Why should I believe that state legislators will do a better job of finding real Conservatives?
Re: “Restore the original genius of our constitutional republic.”
You will never convince me that lifetime appointments for Federal judges was an act of genius.
Thanks for the ping.
I wonder if Mark Levin had anything to do with the timing of this column.
IIRC, didn’t you post on another thread the way to push for 17th repeal was to play to the egos of state legislators?
When was the last time we set the terms of the debate? The last consistent time was during the Ronald Reagan era. Today we get an occasional reprieve from, for instance, Senators Rand Paul or Ted Cruz. In the course of defending this amendment, we would educate a couple generations of Americans purposely kept ignorant of the magnificent bequest of our ancestors, the Constitution.
17th repeal is an idea that conservatives should flock to.
The democrat party is dangerously close to consolidating all power. Once they flip Texas . . .
Very little time remains to possibly save our republic.
But the 17th? Are you mad? The only thing worse than letting my fellow Massholes choose Massachusetts's senators would to let the Massachusetts legislature do it!
Our Framers experienced early majoritarian abuse by overly democratic state legislatures. That was not going to happen in a government they designed.
The problem was how to ensure consent of the people to any law without becoming a liberty killing democracy.
The answer was to include the states in their corporate capacity as members of the legislature, to check the shifting whims of the people's house.
Imagine a Senate composed of people who don’t give a rip what the left-media say about them. Imagine a Senate immune from popularity polls and whatever spews daily from Obama or Chrissy Mathews. Imagine a Senate that flips the bird to a President who even considers anti-10th Amendment radicals to the federal bench. It is far more than that.
Our Framers experienced early majoritarian abuse by overly democratic state legislatures. That was not going to happen in a government they designed.
The problem was how to ensure consent of the people to any law without becoming a liberty killing democracy.
The answer was to include the states in their corporate capacity as members of the legislature, to check the shifting whims of the people's house.
Imagine a Senate composed of people who don’t give a rip what the left-media say about them. Imagine a Senate immune from popularity polls and whatever spews daily from Obama or Chrissy Mathews. Imagine a Senate that flips the bird to a President who even considers anti-10th Amendment radicals to the federal bench. Would such a Senate put up with an EPA or HHS that pushes their States around? Not a chance.
Sorry about the double post within a post.
Watch it, your liberal slip is showing.
You make the point for us, WE ALL DON'T LIVE IN LIBERAL MARXIST HELL HOLES LIKE MASSACHUSETTS
You might be able to convince people to vote for senators by congressional district and the one who takes the most districts wins. You might actually be able to sell that if you can show how it puts control back into the hands of the individual states.
My idea is that we should change the terms of senators from six years to either four or eight years - and make the senator the running mate of the gubernatorial candidate. Thus, there would be only one election every four years, and a single vote would determine the senatorial as well as the gubernatorial result. So your vote wouldn’t be taken away, but the governor couldn’t pass the buck to the federal government if his own running mate voted for an unfunded mandate which hurt the people of the state. I would say make the senatorial decision of a single senator for the next 8 years at each gubernatorial election - except that the governor would have the power to take up the senate seat after four years, at his option. That way the governor would be responsible for senatorial performance.
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