Judicial Health Amendment
Flag Protection Amendment
Capital Punishment Ban
Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
Former Prisoners Rights Amendment
Firearms Rights Amendment
Voluntary Euthanasia Amendment
Single Presidential Term Amendment
Six Year House Term Amendment
Victims Rights Amendment
Religious Freedom Protection
Amendment
Direct Presidential
Election Amendment
National Speed Limit Amendment
Affirmative Action Restriction
Amendment
Hunting and Fishing Rights
Amendment
Military Draft Prohibition
Amendment
Right to College Education
Amendment
Mandatory Death Sentence Amendment
Recommendation Arguments - Some states have provided essays on the merits of their recommendations. It is recommended that convention delegates in particular read these argments.
In order to ensure fitness for judicial responsibilities, all federal
judges shall undergo a mandatory medical evaluation every two years by
a panel of six doctors to be recommended by the American Medical Association
and approved by the Senate with a 2/3 majority. The panel will make a recommendation
to the Senate regarding the judge's ability to serve.
(North Carolina)
We propose that the United States Flag not be burned as a form of freedom
of "speech".
(Indiana, Illinois, or Mississippi)
Capital Punishment Ban Amendment
We propose to ban capital punishment.
(Indiana, Illinois, or Mississippi)
No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits
of, or otherwise discriminated against under any program, including employment,
because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry,
marital status, sexual orientation, mental retardation or past/present
history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability.
(Maine or Missouri)
Argument
Former Prisoners Rights Amendment
The right to vote would be restored to rehabilitated criminals. No state
or local government can permanently take away the right to vote of an individual
who is no longer in prison.
(Maine or Missouri)
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. Examples of felonies include: Sexual assault, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, larceny, murder, arson, kidnapping, car jacking,
A history of mental health problems shall disqualify a person from obtaining a firearm until such time as they are deemed by a licensed mental health physician to be in sound mental health.
A minimum age requirement of 21 years.
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 bought
or sold.
(Louisiana)
Argument
Voluntary Euthanasia Amendment
Any person of sound mind, having been diagnosed by at least three(3)
medical doctors, who are familiar with the patient's specific medical condition(s),
as having no more than one year to live in which the patient's quality
of life would be severely diminished, and deemed not mentally unstable
or mentally ill by way of mandatory psychiatric testing, shall have the
right to legally request and receive a licensed physician's assistance
in voluntary death.
(Louisiana)
Argument
Single Presidential Term Amendment
Section 1. The term of the President and Vice President shall last six years and shall not exceed one term.
Section 2. No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than once, and no person who has held the office of the president, or acted as president, for more than three years of a term to which some other person was elected president shall be eligible to hold the office of president.
Section 3. 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)
Argument
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 six 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 second year, the seats of the second section shall be vacated after the fourth year, and the seats of the third shall be vacated after the sixth year thus establishing a rotation for representatives to be elected every second year for six 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)
Argument
Section 1. All states shall provide equal and fair rights to all crime victims. For all cases, victims is defined as any person who has suffered as a result of physical or mental injury, or economic loss. Also included is any spouse, sibling, child or parent of the individual against whom the offense was committed. Included is anyone who has an equivalent relationship and is not a blood relative.
Section 2. The right to be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process. The victim is also to be made aware of all services available.
Section 3. The victim is guaranteed the following rights: the right to notification of court proceedings; 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 right to information about the conviction, sentence, imprisonment and release of the accused. If the accused is a sexual offender, the victim is given the right to information pertaining to the release and location; the right to the timely disposition of the case following the arrest of the accused; the right to have present at all court proceedings, subject to the rules of evidence, an advocate or other support person of the victim's choice. the right to object to any plea argument offered by the accused; the victim and the family of the victim right to address the court before a decision is made by the court to accept a plea of guilty from the defense.
Section 4. The right to restitution and a timely compensation.
Section 5. The right to be reasonably protected from the accused through
the criminal justice process. If necessary, an officer of the law may be
assigned to protect a victim and the family of the victim.
(Louisiana)
Argument
Religious Freedom Protection Amendment
Section 1 The government shall not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification.
Section 2 A substantial burden is anything that significantly restricts that which is fundamental to a religion.
Section 3 When it is deemed that the government has compelling justification
to restrict religious practice, it shall be done in the least restrictive
way possible.
(Ohio)
Argument
Direct Presidential Election Amendment
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, 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 If a majority of the citizens of the nation with the right to vote do not participate in either the initial election or the runoff, the results will be void.
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)
Argument
National Speed Limit Amendment
Section 1 An amendment that will change the speed limit on all interstate highways.
Section 2 This amendment will be upheld by the Congress of the United States.
Section 3 The speed limit shall be consistent with each other and may be changed by acts of Congress.
Section 4 This amendment will take effect on May 1, 1999.
(Minnesota or California)
Affirmative Action Restriction
Amendment
Section 1 Article concerning a restriction on the practice
of affirmative action.
Section 2 A person should not be socially profiled for a job, it is a form of racial discrimination.
Section 3 Congress shall have power to enforce this article by approving legislation.
Section 4 This will go into place July 22, 1999.
(Minnesota or California)
Hunting and Fishing Rights Amendment
Section 1 An amendment concerning hunting and fishing.
Section 2 At all times hunters and fishers will be able to hunt for game and fish. The license fee for eligibility will be fifty dollars per year. Fishing will be legal at all places all the time; heavy fines for keeping fish under state requirement size or too many fish will be classified as insubordination, and will be put on record. Hunting will be allowed all the time on private property. All other rules and regulation will still be enforced by the game wardens of each state.
Section 3 These take effect April 1, from the ratification. Congress
will be held responsible that the seasons run smoothly and efficiently.
(Minnesota or California)
Military Draft Prohibition Amendment
Section 1 Congress shall make no law saying that men or women over the age of 18 must go to war - drafted. These people of our country must have the right to decide whether or not to be drafted and go to war.
Section 2 This amendment will be enforced by the people. The people of the United States and of other countries must have the right to enforce this law.
Section 3 This law will go into effect by January of 2000.
Section 4 Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
(Minnesota or California)
Right to College Education Amendment
Section 1 The government provided a partial college education, only if the applicant goes to the state university or community college within the state they have resided in for the past 5 years. The purpose is to raise the amount of students who go to college after high school at a reduced cost.
Section 2 The applicant can+AJI-t be at school for more than 5 years. After 8 years of graduation, the student will have to pay back half of the total cost in monthly payments.
Section 3 Private schools and other universities outside of that state are excluded.
Section 4 This amendment will take place in the fall of 2001.
Section 5 Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
(Minnesota or California)
Mandatory Death Sentence Amendment
Section 1 An article concerning the institution of mandatory death sentence.
Section 2 The government will carry through with the death sentence upon conviction. The convicted will have the opportunity to appeal the jury+AJI-s verdict for a period of no more than two years. If the sentence remains unchanged the result will be the immediate death of the guilty party.
Section 3 This article shall be effective with a three-quarters majority vote of the states.
Section 4 Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
(Minnesota or California)