Free Republic

Well isn't that interesting: John Edwards is on his way out, so that makes Arlen Specter the trial lawyers' darling in the Senate. The liberal Specter is also in line to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. If that happens, we're betting that President Bush's plans for tort reform will be dead on arrival. The real problem, though, will be the Senate approval for Supreme Court Justices. Bush may get to pick three this term, as well as elevate Clarence Thomas to Chief Justice. As Justice Committee chairman, will Specter play ball and support Bush's picks? Many groups around...

Fearful that aggressive action could backfire and generate public hostility, gay rights groups are planning to limit the scope of their legal challenges to the constitutional amendments banning gay marriage that were passed by 11 states last week. The groups are making a temporary retreat from their most fundamental goal, winning the right for same-sex marriages, and focusing instead on those measures that addressed civil unions in some way. The groups say that broader suits seeking the right to marry could add fuel to President Bush's efforts to create a federal prohibition on gay marriage. Many of the state amendments...

I just recieved my sample ballot in Florida, and thought it would be a good idea to discuss the consitutional amendments proposed within it. If it's ok with the moderators, I'd like to do one per day until the election. Some of the interpretation is lost on me, and I assume that others may suffer the same. Without further ado. No. 1 Constitutional Amendment Article X, Section 22. Article X Miscellaneous Section 22. Parental notice of termination of a minor's pregnancy. The legislature shall not limit or deny the privacy right guaranteed to a minor under the United States Constitution...

This is a thread to consolidate all of the commentary on the Florida message board concerning the Constitutional Amendments up for ratification on November 2nd. Please keep this thread focused on the amendments but feel free to start other discussion threads. Help us all make informed decisions on election day!

With Election Day less than seven weeks away, ballots are finally shaping up around the country. The ballot measures database is nearly complete-data is lacking or incomplete from just three states (Maine, Texas and Vermont). Here are the totals so far: 2004 Ballot Measures Measure Type Number Citizen Initiative 59Legislative Referendum 101Popular Referendum 2Other 1TOTAL 163

By Dr. Tom Snyder As you may know, the United States Senate has narrowly rejected a constitutional amendment to protect the traditional biblical definition of marriage. In reading and hearing about the debate in Congress and elsewhere, it has become clear that many self-proclaimed conservatives and Republicans, including Sen. John McCain, don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to politics, history, morality, and religion. The eminent political historian, Russell Kirk, the founder of the modern conservative movement in the United States and in the Republican Party, often wrote that the first principle of conservative thought is the...

Aiming to unite all residents of the United States under one common language, Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) introduced a Constitutional Amendment that would declare English the official language of our nation. Reversing the recent tide of divisive and piecemeal multilingualism, H.J. Res. 94 would ensure that government business is conducted in English, providing a common ground for communication and understanding. First proposed by Senator and U.S. English, Inc. founder S.I. Hayakawa, legislation that would make English the official language of the United States has been one of the most widely supported measures in the past 20 years. More than 550...

<p>In 1787, the Founding Fathers forged a bulwark of freedom, the U.S. Constitution, with its Bill of Rights ratified in 1791. In 1878, British Prime Minister W. E. Gladstone called it "the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man," in an apparent try to distinguish it from the God-given Ten Commandments.</p>

Companion bills calling for a Constitutional Amendment to be acted on by Kentucky voters in November have been filed in both the House and Senate. Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark insists the state's horse racing industry is largely in agreement on the amendment. Clark met with members of Kentucky's horse racing industry Thursday. His plan includes up to nine casinos in Kentucky. Five would be controlled by race tracks, and four would be located elsewhere. Such a plan could bring in an estimated 437 million dollars a year, five years after it's implemented. Clark provided documents that said 40 percent...

Got an email from FL House that there will be a hearing in Daytona Beach tomorrow, Jan 9th, to study the process of amending the state constitution. I think it is too darn easy to do so and anything the dims can't get the legislature to do they put an amendment on the ballot. Remember the pigs of the last election? Anyhow here are the details. The meeting is tomorrow and I got the mail too last minute to make it: ====== Dear Citizen, The Florida House of Representatives Select Committee on Constitutional Amendments will convene a public hearing Friday...

On Wednesday, January 7, 2003, President Bush proposed a reform of our nation's immigration system. It is clearly obvious that the immigration plan proposed by the President has not been received well at all by most conservatives and Republicans. The bad news is that the plan proposed seems to be a backdoor form of amnesty for illegal immigrants. The good news is that this is not an Executive Order. It is instead a request to the Congress to come up with a bill that addresses the problem of illegal immigration. The silver lining is that President Bush has put the...

All 22 constitutional amendments should be halted, she says A Houston lawyer said Tuesday that she will ask a Travis County judge to block 22 constitutional amendments passed by voters Sept. 13 from becoming law until the courts resolve her lawsuit challenging the election. Lawyer Valorie Davenport said it was illegal for Gov. Rick Perry to formally canvass the election results on Monday afternoon because she had filed a lawsuit contesting the election earlier in the day. Under Texas law, she said, none of the amendments -- including Proposition 12, which allows lawmakers to set limits on some damage awards...

Early voting begins today for the Texas State Constitutional Amendments. Early voting until September 8th, with regular voting on Saturday, 13 September. The link above provides a source for all 22 of the proposed amendments. Commentary and the original House/Senate Joint Resolution for each amendment is provided.

The ability of a nation to peaceably govern itself is entirely dependent on its willingness to abide by previously stipulated agreements wherein limits of governmental action are established. Most importantly, such rules must define the method by which authority transitions from one leader to another. The alternative to this approach can only be violent revolution. For more than two centuries, the United States has, with the notable exception of the Civil War, operated in an orderly manner in which the rights of citizens have been generally regarded as paramount. However, in the past decade or so, an emerging pattern of...

There is an election on September 13 concerning 22 proposed constitutional amendments for the State of Texas. Here are the proposed amendments in their ballot order. ----------------------------------------------------- Proposition 1-- Authorizing the Veterans' Land Board to use assets in certain veterans' land and veterans' housing assistance funds to provide veterans homes for the aged or infirm and to make principal, interest and bond enhancement payments on revenue bonds. Proposition 2-- Establishes a two-year period for the redemption of a mineral interest sold for unpaid ad valorem taxes at a tax sale. Proposition 3-- Authorizing the Legislature to exempt from ad valorem...

Press Release: Subject: Michigan Gun Owners formed Issued: February 8, 2003 Gun Rights activists want grass roots organization in Michigan: Leading gun rights activists in Michigan today announced a new initiative to put forth a return to grass roots activism and reverse the trend of draconian restrictions placed upon the law abiding gun owners of Michigan and restore the rights of its citizens as guaranteed by Article 1, Section 6 of Michigan’s Constitution and the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. A non-profit organization called “Michigan Gun Owners” has been formed to build a voice for law-abiding Michigan citizens who...

From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- November 1, 2002 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, This past year, homeschoolers almost single-handedly defeated the "Government Nanny" bill, which would have created a far-reaching bureaucracy limiting parental rights. We are thankful that Governor Bush vetoed this program's funding. A new potential threat, however, is looming in the form of a ballot initiative. REQUESTED ACTION When you go to the polls to vote this Tuesday, November 5, you will have opportunity to vote on the "Voluntary Universal Pre-Kindergarten Education" ballot. We urge everyone to vote "No" on this proposal, which if passed, will become...

NOTE: The 1st District Court of Appeal declined to certify a discretionary appeal on Amendment No. 5 to the Supreme Court, denied the stay and ordered that the ballot title and summary be stricken from the general election ballot. For this reason Amendment No. 5 was removed from the ballot. Therefore, the amendments on the ballot will simply skip Amendment No. 5 and go from Amendment No. 4 to Amendment No. 6. Ballot Summary: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution identical to a proposed amendment to Section 17 of Article I of the State Constitution which was approved by...

Florida Class-Size Amendment Will Sow Destructive Seeds By ED H. MOORE Special for The Tampa Tribune< Published: Oct 20, 2002 The Nov. 5 Florida ballot includes a proposed constitutional amendment that is a dangerous option for the future of Florida. Every aspect of gov ernment will pay the price if the citizens enact the class-size proposal, but the service that will suffer the most, if this unproven and highly expensive concept is successfully foisted upon the voting public, is public education. The Florida Council for Education Policy, Research and Improvement board estimates the costs of this amendment to be in...

[This was originally posted at the above link on Free Republic; the thread is locked against new bumps due its original publication date of August, 2000, so I'm reposting this valuable information.] Complete text of Constitution with amendments THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Preamble We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish the Constitution of the United States of America. Article...