Amending the Constitution: Why Change?

Amending the Constitution:Amending the Constitution:Why Change?Why Change?

School of RockSchool of Rock

The Times They Are A-Changin’

by Bob Dylan (1964)

The Times They Are A-Changin’

by Bob Dylan (1964) Come gather ‘round

people Wherever you roamAnd admit that the

watersAround you have

grownAnd accept it that

soonYou’ll be drenched to

the bone

Come gather ‘round people

Wherever you roamAnd admit that the

watersAround you have

grownAnd accept it that

soonYou’ll be drenched to

the bone

If your time to you is worth savin’

Then you better start swimmin’

Or you’ll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin’

If your time to you is worth savin’

Then you better start swimmin’

Or you’ll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin’

Verse 2Verse 2

Come writers & criticsWho prophesize with

your penAnd keep your eyes

wide The chance won’t come

againAnd don’t speak too

soonFor the wheel’s still in

spin

Come writers & criticsWho prophesize with

your penAnd keep your eyes

wide The chance won’t come

againAnd don’t speak too

soonFor the wheel’s still in

spin

And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’

For the loser now

Will be later to win

For the times they are a-changin’

And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’

For the loser now

Will be later to win

For the times they are a-changin’

Come senators, congressmen

Please heed the callDon’t stand in the

doorwayDon’t block up the hallFor he that gets hurtWill be he who has

stalledThere’s a battle outside

Come senators, congressmen

Please heed the callDon’t stand in the

doorwayDon’t block up the hallFor he that gets hurtWill be he who has

stalledThere’s a battle outside

And it is ragin’It’ll soon shake

your windowsAnd rattle your

wallsFor the times

they are a-changin’

And it is ragin’It’ll soon shake

your windowsAnd rattle your

wallsFor the times

they are a-changin’

Verse 3Verse 3

Come mothers & fathersThroughout the landAnd don’t criticize What you can’t

understandYour sons and your

daughtersAre beyond your

command

Come mothers & fathersThroughout the landAnd don’t criticize What you can’t

understandYour sons and your

daughtersAre beyond your

command

Your old road is Rapidly agin’Please get out of

the new oneIf you can’t lend

a handFor the times They are a-

changin’

Your old road is Rapidly agin’Please get out of

the new oneIf you can’t lend

a handFor the times They are a-

changin’

Verse 4Verse 4

The line it is drawnThe curse it is castThe slow one nowWill later be fastAs the present nowWill later be pastThe order is Rapidly fadin’

The line it is drawnThe curse it is castThe slow one nowWill later be fastAs the present nowWill later be pastThe order is Rapidly fadin’

And the first one now

Will later be lastFor the times They are a-

changin’

And the first one now

Will later be lastFor the times They are a-

changin’

Verse 5Verse 5

Questions for DiscussionQuestions for DiscussionQuestions for DiscussionQuestions for Discussion

1. What do you think the song is about, i.e. “what’s going on?”

2. In each verse, Dylan is challenging a certain group to change. Analyze each verse of the song and identify who or what needs to change.

3. What do you think is the overall message of the song?

4. What forces might make it necessary to change the Constitution?

1. What do you think the song is about, i.e. “what’s going on?”

2. In each verse, Dylan is challenging a certain group to change. Analyze each verse of the song and identify who or what needs to change.

3. What do you think is the overall message of the song?

4. What forces might make it necessary to change the Constitution?

The Constitution and the The Constitution and the Amendment ProcessAmendment Process

Methods of Proposal

Methods of Proposal

Method 1

By 2/3 vote in both the House and the Senate

[most common method of proposing an amendment]

Methods of ProposalMethods of Proposal

Method 2

By national constitutional convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures

[This method has never been used]

Method 1

By 2/3 vote in both the House and the Senate

[most common method of proposing an amendment]

Or

Methods of RatificationMethods of Ratification

Methods of RatificationMethods of Ratification

Method 1

By legislatures in ¾ of the states

[in all but one case, this is how amendments have been ratified]

Methods of RatificationMethods of Ratification

Method 2

Ratified through conventions in ¾ of the states.

[Only been used once to ratify the 21st Amendment]

Method 1

By legislatures in ¾ of the states

[in all but one case, this is how amendments have been ratified]

Or

Amendment ProcessAmendment ProcessMethods of Proposal

Method 1

By 2/3 vote in both the House and the Senate

Or

Method 2

By national constitutional convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures

Methods of Ratification

Method 1

By legislatures in ¾ of the states

Or

Method 2

Ratified through conventions in ¾ of the states.

Suggested Amendment Topics

Flag burning Allow non-natural

born citizens to become President

Official language(s) of U.S.

Definition of marriage

Prayer in school

Balanced budget Electoral College Terms limits on

U.S. Senators & Representatives

Access to medical care for all citizens

Death penalty

The Equal Rights The Equal Rights AmendmentAmendmentProposed 1972Proposed 1972

Equality of rights under Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United or abridged by the United States or by any state on States or by any state on account of sex.account of sex.

In 1789, the first Congress of the United In 1789, the first Congress of the United States established the existence of States established the existence of specific individual rights by creating a Bill specific individual rights by creating a Bill of Rights to be amended to the of Rights to be amended to the Constitution. In each session of Constitution. In each session of Congress, a number of constitutional Congress, a number of constitutional amendments have been proposed, but few amendments have been proposed, but few are passed to be ratified by the states are passed to be ratified by the states (only 27 amendments total). (only 27 amendments total).

Why not?Why not?

In 1972, Congress passed the Equal In 1972, Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment, but by 1982, it fell Rights Amendment, but by 1982, it fell three states short of ratification. ERA three states short of ratification. ERA supporters have re-introduced the supporters have re-introduced the amendment in every term since 1982 amendment in every term since 1982 without success. Still the simple words without success. Still the simple words embodied in the amendment are both embodied in the amendment are both powerful and controversial.powerful and controversial.

The Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA):(ERA):

Questions for DiscussionQuestions for Discussion1.1. What rights are What rights are

protected by the ERA?protected by the ERA?2.2. Why do you think the Why do you think the

ERA has evoked such ERA has evoked such heated debate?heated debate?

3.3. Brainstorm pros and Brainstorm pros and cons of each side.cons of each side.

4.4. Do you think the ERA Do you think the ERA should be ratified?should be ratified?

Political Cartoon #1Political Cartoon #1Title: Flag Burning Amendment

Gary Markstein, Wisconsin, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel , July 18, 2005 ,http://www.politicalcartoons.com

Political Cartoon #2Political Cartoon #2Title: Flag Burning

Steve Breen, The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 25, 2005http://www.politicalcartoons.com

Political Cartoon #3Political Cartoon #3Title: Gay Marriage Amendment

Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons. Feb. 26, 2004 http://www.politicalcartoons.com