November 18, 2009

The Twenty Seventh Amendment.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.


Short and sweet! This amendment states that any pay raises for legislatures will not take effect until after an election. This is great so that they cannot keep voting for themselves to get pay raises, etc.





I LOVE Alec Baldwin! This is him reading the 27th amendment.





Just another video from that random guy broadcasting from his room talking about the twenty seventh amendment!

The Twenty Sixth Amendment.

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


The twenty sixth amendment is one of my favorites! It ensures that any United States citizen 18 years and over could legally vote. I think this is an incredible addition to the constitution. I think now the younger voters are beginning to turn out more and more and that is amazing!




The importance in voting!!!





This is a video aimed at the younger viewers! 18+!!


The Twenty Fifth Amendment.

Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.


The twenty fifth amendment basically shows the presidential line of succession. It shows what would happen and who would take charge if something should happen to the president while he was still in office. The succession goes: vice president, speaker of the house, president of senate, secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, secretary of the defense, and then the attorney general. It goes on to list more and more people however I think the chances of all six of these people dying at once and having to move further down the line of succession is HIGHLY unlikely.



Just a silly video about a robot eating the president and what would happen if the president did in fact get eaten by a robot. Hah!




Alec Baldwin reading the twenty fifth amendment! Posted for no other reason other than the fact that I love Alec Baldwin!

The Twenty Fourth Amendment.

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


The twenty fourth amendment eliminates the poll taxes. I think this is a VERY important amendment because many people could not afford to pay a poll tax but that does not mean that they should not have the right to vote. This also goes into play with the civil rights movement because poll taxes were often used as a way to discriminate against African Americans and not allow them to vote-- by requiring such a high poll tax that only well to do white people could vote.




This is a video from MSNBC talking about a "new" poll tax. There are many of these videos coming around comparing various things to the old poll taxes...kind of interesting.





This is just a random video I found of a high school history project. It was pretty much the only one I could find on this amendment!

The Twenty Third Amendment.

Section 1. The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelth article of amendment.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.


This amendment basically states that the District of Columbia has three electoral votes for president. There's really not a whole lot I have to say about this amendment-- it's pretty cut and dry. I could get into the whole electoral college system and how I think that is quite outdated and needs to be revised but let's face it...nobody wants to read me ramble on about that!




This is a cut and dry explanation of the twenty third amendment by an attorney.




This is the same random guy I have been posting quite a few videos of. Apparently he is going through every single amendment on youtube and explaining and stating his opinion on it. Surprise, it's NOT for a class!

The Twenty Second Amendment.

Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2. 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 to the states by the Congress.


The twenty second amendment essentially limits the president to two terms or 10 years. If something happens to the president, the vice president will take over the job as president and continue on the previous president's term-- a new one will not be started for him. This is a great amendment because it ensures that a president cannot continue on for fifty years and that there is always a chance for a fresh perspective to come into the white house.


Basically, I just thought this video was hilarious because the video maker obviously does not know much about the twenty second amendment and actually thinks that statement from Barack Obama means he is thinking of abolishing the twenty second amendment, HAH!



This is just a simple straight to the point explanation of the twenty second amendment by an attorney.

The Twenty First Amendment.

Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress. Effect of Repeal



The twenty first amendment basically repeals the eighteenth amendment. It makes it so that the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol would no longer be illegal. I think that when they created the eighteenth amendment they expected everyone to simply obey the law and not drink alcohol however it sort of backfired on them. Because everyone was making and consuming liquor illegally, crime began to rise and the government began to realise that it would be more beneficial to make alcohol legal once again.




This is an interview with a wine sales rep on his opinion on the twenty first amendment. It is an interesting point of view-- you can bet he is happy this amendment was passed!




This is a video of an average guy explaining the twenty-first amendment. It seems that everyone knows about this amendment-- at least a lot of college guys! ;)

The Twentieth Amendment.

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.


Yet again, another LONG amendment! This amendment basically sets a new start date for the president as well as congress. It also lays out the responsibilities of the Vice President as well as states what is to happen if the president were to die before his term was over. I think this is an incredibly important amendment because of all of the information that is packed into it.




This is a Keith Olbermann special on Sarah Palin and her lack of knowledge on the twentieth amendment. Ah, Sarah Palin!!




This is Leah Kauffman ("Obama Girl") reading the twentieth amendment.


The Nineteenth 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 sex.

Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."


My favorite amendment!!! This amendment was the smartest thing the US government ever did (ha just kidding). This amendment gave women the right to vote. It's so crazy that it took this long for this amendment to come about but I am so thankful that it did.




This is the nineteenth amendment read by Amber Peach brought to you by Constitution Live.




This is a pretty entertaining video on the nineteenth amendment! He totally gets the point across but does so in a pretty amusing way!

The 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."


The eighteenth amendment stopped alcohol in the United States-- it prohibited to be sold, manufactured, or consumed in the United States. This was in my opinion, one of the worst ideas! This amendment didn't stop people from drinking and selling alcohol, it only stopped them from doing it legally. People began making their own alcohol and feeling the need to sneak around, it really didn't stop anything. In my opinion it did far more bad than good.




This is a pretty creative video someone made for their history class. I think it's very amusing and has a great amount of footage from various movies that support the amendment.




This is a video of Bill Irwin in 2004 reading the 18th amendment for the People for the American Way's Constitution reading in New York City.


The Seventeenth Amendment.

"Clause 1. 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.

Clause 2. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of each 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.

Clause 3. 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 seems to be way longer than it needs to be. This amendment is basically laying down how the senators are to be chosen. It shifts the election of senators from state legislatures to the people of the states-- the people in the states vote on the senators. I don't really have much of an opinion on this amendment it's sort of a "house keeping" amendment to me-- something that needed to be said but not something that seems to cause much controversy or talk what so ever.




This is a very cut and dry interpretation of the seventeenth amendment from an attorney.




Here, Thomas DiLorenzo explains why the seventeenth amendment is necessary and important to us today.

The 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."


The sixteenth amendment is a pretty crappy one in my opinion. It allows the federal government to collect federal income tax to be collected without regard of the size of the state the person lives in.





This is a video of an interview with a constitutional attorney talking about the sixteenth amendment and what it has to do with taxes.




This is a cartoon/music video pertaining directly to the sixteenth amendment and taxes.

The 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 ensures that race cannot be used as a criteria for voting. This allowed African American's the right to vote. This is probably another one of the amendments that stands out in most people's minds as it has a lot to do with the struggle for civil rights.




This video is a very dramatic reading of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendment read by Ruby Dee. This was for the People for the American Way's reading of the Constitution in New York City in 2004.




This is basically some guy talking and giving his opinion on the fifteenth amendment...in his garage from what it looks like in the background.

The 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."


First of all, this amendment is ENTIRELY too long. But, aside from that...this amendment ensures that all citizens within the United States have the rights of the federal government as well as the state they live in-- one state's laws cannot knock out the other. Also, this amendment abolishes the 3/5ths compromise. It also ensures that the United States will not be held responsible for debts that its states may owe.




This is a video speaking on the fourteenth amendment-- commenting on the day it was made, the civil rights that it gave African American's, etc. I really like this video-- he is pretty entertaining and a little bit edgy which I like since most of these amendment videos tend to be pretty bland. The video also does a really great job of explaining the amendment while poking fun at many politicians and states.




This is a short lecture on the fourteenth amendment-- it's pretty short but really helps at explaining the fourteenth amendment. I think this teacher does a great job of keeping it interesting, short and to the point, but also not leaving much out so we can really grasp what the fourteenth amendment is all about without being bored out of our minds.

The Thirteenth Amendment.

"Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation"


This is probably the amendment that most people are familiar with. This is the amendment that abolishes slavery in the United States. It's a pretty simple amendment stating that slavery or "involuntary servitude" will be illegal in the United States except as punishment for a crime. This amendment freed the thousands of slaves in America and protected future generations from facing this sort of hardship.




In this video, Fox news claims that president Obama as well as The House of Representatives are ignoring the thirteenth amendment and creating "involuntary servitude" by passing "The Give Act".




This video simply shows Art Douglas reading the thirteenth amendment in a part of "Constitution Live".