Congress for Kids: [Constitution]: Amendments

Constitution

Introduction Delegates to the Constitutional Convention The Work Begins Writing the Constitution The Great Compromise Signing the Constitution Ratifying the Constitution Bill of Rights Powers of the Federal Government The Three Branches of Government Checks and Balances Amendments Women - The Right to Vote

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When the 26th amendment was being considered, why did the Congress settle on 18 as the minimum age? Why not 17 or 16?

What is the most important change in Constitutional interpretation in U.S. history? Aside from the first ten amendments, is the 14th Amendment one of the biggest?

Why couldn't an income tax be levied without the 16th amendment? Congress tried to pass an income tax before the 16th Amendment, but the Supreme Court struck it down. What was the Supreme Court's rationale for doing so? If the 16th Amendment authorizes Congress to lay and collect a tax on any income, what kinds of income could they tax before, and what part of the Constitution limits them?"

First Amendment 101

Amendments

Very few things last long without change. Nothing is perfect. The writers of the Constitution realized this when they presented the first twelve amendments to the Constitution.

Amendments to the Constitution can be either additions or changes to the original text. It is not easy to change the Constitution. Since 1787, over 9,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have been approved.

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The Constitution was written before parties were a player in American politics. When John Adams was chosen for President in the 1796 election, the second-place candidate, Thomas Jefferson, became Vice President. Adams was a Federalist and Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican. The two clashed several times during Adams's presidency, though Adams's conflicts with Hamilton, a Federalist, too, probably caused Adams more concern.

In the election of 1800, the flaws of the original system became more than apparent. Jefferson and Aaron Burr both got 73 votes in the Electoral College, forcing the House of Representatives to choose. The problem? Both Jefferson and Burr were candidates of the same party, with Burr chosen to be the Vice President. Some states preferred Burr and neither was able to get the required majority until the stalemate was ultimately broken.

The result was the 12th Amendment, approved in Congress on December 9, 1803, and ratified on June 15, 1804 (189 days), in time for the new process to be in place for the 1804 election. With the 12th Amendment, electors are directed to vote for a President and for a Vice President rather than for two choices for President.

Projects You Can Do

The city of Edwardsville, IL, is a beautiful suburb of St. Louis. It has an ordinance that generally prohibits all signs within its 8.5 square miles. The purpose of the law is to prevent "ugliness, visual blight, and clutter," as well as to maintain real estate values.

Hold a town meeting to discuss the Edwardsville ordinance. Role-play residents for and against the ban, the American Civil Liberties Union, and members of the city council, business community, and "Edwardsville Beautification Society." Testify before the pretend city council on the pros and cons of keeping the law as it is. Those acting as city council members should question those testifying and then make a decision about the ordinance. Make signs supporting your decisions.

Form groups of four to five people. Draft a new law regulating signs that will further the interests of Edwardsville (for example, signs that protect the beauty of the community and maintain real estate values), and at the same time, insure First Amendment rights.

Compose a dissenting opinion.

Discuss reasons why commercial speech (such as advertisements) has been given less protection under the First Amendment than noncommercial speech (such as political or social signs).

Research local laws that pertain to the regulation of residential signs, posters, and handbills.

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