Mark Levin, also known as "The Great One" (hat tip to Jackie Gleason!), has a new bestseller out titled "The Liberty Amendments". In it he outlines a set of 10 Constitutional amendments that are necessary to the life, liberty, and happiness of America. He proposes using Article V of the Constitution to achieve this. Now, remember, this has NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE...but it looks more and more like it is getting to a point where it has to be done somehow, someway.
ARTICLE V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments,
which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article*; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
It is the underlined and italicized text above that is relevant. And just what are these 10 proposed Amendments?
1) Term Limits: Limiting service in both houses of Congress to 12 years. Elections are supposed to be the best limit. However, these elections are all to often decided by the resources, seemingly unlimited if they want, deployed by the main two parties. If you don't have the official okie-dokie of your party, you have NO CHANCE. Term limits exist in most states and it was debated in the Constitutional Congress.
2) Repealing the 17th Amendment: Senators were originally elected by state legislators, which kept state power from being diluted in the face of the federal government.
3) Restoring the Judiciary role: This is actually a big change. Away from life time appointments to single 12 year terms, as well as granting both Congress and the state legislatures the authority to overturn court decisions with the vote of three-fifths of both houses of Congress or state legislative bodies.
4) Limiting Taxation and Spending: A balanced budget amendment with a spending limit of 17.5% of GDP. Raising the debt ceiling would require a 3/5ths vote. And, in an idea that would spur economic growth and investment, limiting income tax to a maximum of 15% of an individual’s income, prohibiting other forms of taxation, and changing the federal filing date to the day before elections.
5) Limit bureaucracy: Require all federal departments to undergo stand-alone reauthorization bills every three years.
6) Defining the Commerce Clause: Make it clear that the commerce is there to prevent states from impeding commerce among other states. That’s what Madison intended and it has been turned on its head.
7) Limiting Federal power to take private property: Preventing the use of eminent domain to create private wealth in the name of public good.
8) Allowing State Legislature to Amend the Constitution: The framers of the Constitution made it difficult to amend the Constitution, they did so to prevent it from becoming a tool for those in power. This amendment allows states to bypass Congress and propose an amendment with support of just two-thirds of the without convening a convention.
9) State Authority to Override Congress: A proposed amendment to allow states to override federal statutes by majority vote in two-thirds of state legislatures. The last two proposals are rooted in the idea that the states only agreed to the Constitution on condition that their power would not be diluted and that all federal power is derived from the states.
10) Protecting the Vote: Require photo ID for all federal elections with limitations on early voting.
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