The primary focus of this essay has been to get the US Congress to be the initiator for a new amendment that makes it easier to amend and easier to abolish the constitution, according to the 23-month procedure outlined above. This author has also encouraged an Amendment Convention initiated by the state legislatures to pass this amendment as well. Activists need to raise public awareness about both methods for amending the current constitution. Both methods are described in Article V of our current constitution.
Both the US Congress and the 50 state legislatures can be encouraged to initiate an amendment that revises Article V as this author has described above. The American voters, the 3 branches of the federal government, and the 50 state legislatures--all must reread and understand Article V in the constitution, including its reference to slave owners in Article I, Section 9, Clauses 1 and 4. The tortuous wording of Article V will be printed below. After that, readers can reread above the author's Twenty-Eighth Amendment proposal that revises Article V. Then the readers can decide which Article V they would rather have.
Article V of the US Constitution
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. [End of Article V of the current Constitution]
There are more than 50 national political parties in existence. Each one could be a point on a continuum from the far Right to the far Left. If all third parties and the Occupy movement can agree and widely publicize how the current constitution can be amended and abolished more easily as outlined in the 23-month process above, the passed amendment would put new life into the political process.
The author has also recommended his "Third Constitution of the United States" (it can be read at his website), which also can be amended and abolished fairly easily. Passing an amendment that revises Article V, as described above, will establish a precedent for making democracy participatory and inclusive as never before. It will show how all political parties that capture 1% of the electorate can have a voice.
Please discuss all of these ideas with friends and family members. Urge legislators (federal and state) to pass the proposed amendment above that revises Article V. If average Americans, the 99%, and all third parties can unite in getting just this one Twenty-Eighth Amendment proposal for revising Article V passed, a new Constitutional Democratic Republic of the people, by the people, and for the people can become a living reality, and not just a pipe dream.
Roger Copple retired early from teaching general elementary and special education in the public schools of Indianapolis in May 2010 at the age of 60. He currently lives in Sarasota, FL and is spending a lot of time trying to understand history and political science better. His proposed US Constitution, called the "Third Constitution of the United States" can be found at his website: www.NowSaveTheWorld.com (you have to type the 3 w's). He can be emailed at roger. Email address removed
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