Amending the Constitution 1999
 

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Amendments Proposed by the Convention on May 8

Direct Presidential Election Amendment
Firearms Rights Amendment
Affirmative Action Restriction Amendment
Three Year House Term Amendment
Revised Presidential Term Amendment
Victims Rights Amendment

see also Failed Amendments

Direct Presidential Election Amendment  (Passed on voice vote)

Section I

 The election to the office of the President shall henceforth be conducted as follows:

 The President shall be elected by a majority vote of citizens of the United States of America.

Section 2

 The vote must take place during the final year of the current Presidential term. The time, date and methods for the election may be prescribed by Congress so long as that the entire nation votes at the same time on the same date and using comparable methods.

 If the vote produces a majority, then the elected individual shall become the next president and take office as is already prescribed.

Section 3

 If the vote should fail to produce a majority of at least five percent, then the top two vote getters would enter a runoff.

 On a time and date prescribed by Congress, no later than forty days after the first election, following the same procedure as the original, a second popular election will be held. The person of the two who receives a majority of the votes will become the next president, and take office as is already prescribed.

Section 4

 In such a case, Congress shall vote on an interim president who will take office for the next term.

 New elections shall be held with no more than forty days between them until the results can be considered in compliance with this document.

 If the interim president shall hold office for no longer than 365 days.

 If the interim term shall end, and no election has met the criteria, then the office of the president shall be filled by a convention of at least eighty percent of the states. And by a three-fourths vote, the legislatures of the states shall elect an individual to take office as president.

This president shall serve for the remainder of the term started by the interim president, and at the completion of the term the election procedure shall be followed. 
(Ohio)
 

 Firearms Rights Amendment (Passed, 15-10)

Section 1. All people are created equal, and all people shall be afforded equal access to firearms to ensure that their liberty is not denied, infringed, or harmed. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall be subject to the law and the following provisions:

Section 2: A firearm license must be obtained prior to the purchase of a firearm and only persons with a license shall be authorized to have a firearm in their possession. To obtain a firearm license all of the following requirements must be met. 

A background check must be performed by the state in which the weapon is purchased. 

While the background check is being completed there shall be a minimum of a seven-day waiting period.    
The conviction of a felony shall permanently disqualify an individual from eligibility of bearing or obtaining arms and shall require a person in possession of firearms to forfeit all of their firearms to the proper authorities. 

A person with a history of  mental health problems shall  be qualified by a mental health physician before obtaining a firearm or firearm license. A person with a mental history shall be requalified yearly to keep their firearm or firearm license. 

A minimum age requirement is to be determined by the individual states. 

A minimum of a 12 hour firearm control and safety course must be taken, and passed.

Section 3. Firearms must be purchased from a state-licensed dealer, firearms not proven to be purchased from a licensed dealer shall be subject to confiscation. 

Section 4. Automatic weapons and assault rifles shall not be possessed, bought, or sold.
(Louisiana) 


Affirmative Action Restriction Amendment (Passed on Voice Vote)

 Section 1  A person shall not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race, age, physical attributes or marital status.

Section 2  A person shall not be subject to discrimination through the use of a quota system in any area as established by Congress. 

Section 3  Congress shall have power to enforce this article by approving legislation.

Section 4  This will go into effect three months after the ratification of the amendment. 
(Minnesota or California)
 

 Three Year House Term Amendment 

Section 1: Article 1, section 2 of the United States Constitution affirms that the House of Representatives shall be composed of members elected ever second Year by the states. Henceforth, the House of Representatives shall be made up of persons elected for terms of three years.

Section 2: Upon the enactment of this amendment, the House shall be divided into three equal sections. The seats of the first section shall be vacated after the first  year, the seats of the second section shall be vacated after the second  year, and the seats of the third shall be vacated after the third year thus establishing a rotation for representatives to be elected every second year for three year terms. 

Section 3: In order that three groups may be chosen fairly, each state shall spread their representatives as equally as possible. The House Rules Committee shall have final say on the assignment of all members into sections.

Section 4: This amendment shall take affect upon the beginning of the next national election following its ratification.
(Ohio)
 

Revised Presidential Term Amendment (Passed, 14-13)

Section 1. The term of the President and Vice President shall last six years and shall not exceed two terms. The second term for the President and Vice President shall be four years.

Section 2. After the President serves his first term, the President cannot participate in any personal campaigning with the exception of debate. 

Section 3. If the President dies before completing any term, the Vice President shall become President. The new President shall have the opportunity to run for a second term. This second term shall be four years. He shall be restricted from participating in any personal campaigning with the exception of debate.

Section 4. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall be 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.
(Ohio)
 

Victims Rights Amendment (Passed, 17-5)

Section 1 All states shall provide equal and fair rights to all crime victims. For all  cases, victim is defined as any person who has suffered as a result of physical   or mental injury, or economic loss. 
   
Section 2 The victim or his or her estate is made aware of all medical and counseling   services available.

Section 3 The victim is guaranteed the following rights:  the right to communicate with the  prosecution; the right to testify or the right to refuse testimony; the right to  make a statement to the court at sentencing.  The victim and the family of the   victim has a right to address the court before a decision is made by the court   to accept a plea of guilty from the defense. 

Section 4 If the accused is a sexual offender, the victim is given the right to information   pertaining to the release and location of the accused.

Section 5 The right to protection from the accused through the criminal justice process. 
  If the victim's safety remains in jeopardy after the arrest of the accused or 
  the adjudication of the case, an officer of the law may  be assigned to protect the victim and the family of the victim until the threat  no longer exists.
(Louisiana)
 
 

Failed Amendments

In order to be officially proposed, recommended amendments had to be passed by both a committee and the full convention. 

Judicial Health Amendment (Defeated in floor vote: 9-16) 
Flag Protection Amendment (Died in committee)
Capital Punishment Ban Amendment (Died in committee)
Equal Rights Amendment (Died in committee)
Former Prisoners Rights Amendment (Died in committee)
Voluntary Euthanasia Amendment (Defeated in floor vote: 12-13)
Religious Freedom Protection Amendment (Died in committee)
National Speed Limit Amendment (Died in committee)
Hunting and Fishing Rights Amendment (Died in committee)
Military Draft Prohibition Amendment (Defeated in floor voice vote)
Mandatory Death Sentence Amendment (Defeated in floor vote: 8-17)
 
 

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