If you could add or change one thing about the constitution what would it be?

I myself would change separation of church and state and add fine print to the 2nd amendment

it only needs one thing... permenant disbarment from public office for anyone who tries to restrict its rights

That first capitalized U is where it all went wrong.... actually if it were just adhered to it'd be fine as-is.

I'd take that sub-ordinate "militia" clause out the 2nd

It seems to have caused some confusion in what is a very simple sentence

Repeal the Sixteenth Amendment.  Without the income tax, most of the Leftist government programs in America would dry up and blow away.

The only way that crap works is to take from the few and give to the many, in exchange for the votes of the many.


Steve

Limit the commerce clause. Just not sure how.

Quoted: If you could add or change one thing about the constitution what would it be? I myself would change separation of church and state and add fine print to the 2nd amendment

There is no such thing in the constitution.

You said change one thing and listed two. Make up your mind.


I would add the following to the 2nd A. "Any person that questions this right while holding ANY legislative, executive, or judicial office under the authority of this constitution or a constitution of the several states may be summarily executed by any citizen of the United States."

Quoted: Quoted: If you could add or change one thing about the constitution what would it be? I myself would change separation of church and state and add fine print to the 2nd amendment There is no such thing in the constitution. You said change one thing and listed two. Make up your mind. I would add the following to the 2nd A. "Any person that questions this right while holding ANY legislative, executive, or judicial office under the authority of this constitution or a constitution of the several states may be summarily executed by any citizen of the United States."

Sure there is, its derived from the First Amendment bud

Quoted: If you could add or change one thing about the constitution what would it be? I myself would change separation of church and state and add fine print to the 2nd amendment

I sometimes wonder if the authors could imagine how perverse and devious lawyers would become. Deliberately misrepresenting the Constitution to suit their self serving aims. That being said some portions of the Constitution could use some clear definition of terms to prevent or limit interpretation of those elements meant to be taken as written.

There is a strength to the vagaries of the Constitution in that it makes it more mutable to remain relevant as the world changes. It is unfortunate that Lawyers have done what they do best, bend the best intentions of great men to their will.

I strongly believe in every element of the Constitution and Bill of Rights as written but I would add a strong statement about the right of property and bar the taxation of property. That is to say I would limit taxation to trade and make taxation of property illegal.

I would rather live in France than the theocracy the OP seems to want to create; oh hell I just remembered I live in Utah. It seems that every country that has a state religion is a shit hole. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, any of those ring a bell? I guess the assumption is we would have a better theocracy... which is an absurd assumption.

If it's like a time travel thing, where I could go back and influence the original document, I would add whatever would end slavery at the birth of the nation.

If you mean, change it now, I'd would probably more clearly define the second amendment, almost on a redundant level.

Why would you want to change the separation of church and state?

Quoted: If you could add or change one thing about the constitution what would it be? I myself would change separation of church and state and add fine print to the 2nd amendment

There is no "separation of church and state" in the Constitution.  Have you read it?

The change that I would make:

A well-regulated militia, Being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Quoted: If it's like a time travel thing, where I could go back and influence the original document, I would add whatever would end slavery at the birth of the nation. If you mean, change it now, I'd would probably more clearly define the second amendment, almost on a redundant level. Why would you want to change the separation of church and state?

Because Jesus is lord and people need to know it and live by his teachings. Look at the WW2 generation, god was very much apart of everyday life and they had one of the best generation of American history. Kids respected their parent's, the country was patriotic and proud. Then We took god out of society and look at the current state of the union, its falling apart.

Quoted: Because Jesus is lord and people need to know it and live by his teachings. Look at the WW2 generation, god was very much apart of everyday life and they had one of the best generation of American history. Kids respected their parent's, the country was patriotic and proud. Then We took god out of society and look at the current state of the union, its falling apart.

I hope you forgot the sarcasm smiley.

Late night rant, back to topic

Insert the words "Black Rifle" into the 2nd amendment.

Enumerating the unenumerated right to privacy.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: If you could add or change one thing about the constitution what would it be? I myself would change separation of church and state and add fine print to the 2nd amendment There is no such thing in the constitution. You said change one thing and listed two. Make up your mind. I would add the following to the 2nd A. "Any person that questions this right while holding ANY legislative, executive, or judicial office under the authority of this constitution or a constitution of the several states may be summarily executed by any citizen of the United States." Sure there is, its derived from the First Amendment bud

No, it isn't.  It comes from a letter written by TJ.

eta: In it, he writes of a one-way separation.  That of the state not involving itself in the church's business.  Not the other way around.

Quoted: Limit the commerce clause. Just not sure how.

+1  Easily the most abused and misinterpreted section of the Constitution.  

Quoted: If you could add or change one thing about the constitution what would it be? I myself would change separation of church and state and add fine print to the 2nd amendment

That works pretty well in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other garden spots of the world.  Theocracy is the most idiotic form of government.  

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.


Pretty straightforward.  Congress can't make a law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

No laws endorsing or prohibiting religion.

Cross on federal land?  Who cares?

Ten commandments at the courthouse?  Big deal.

The Constitution was written during a time of Common Sense (heh, get it?).  The problem later arises when busybodies and whiners start causing problems.  We are beyond the point where the squeaky wheels ceased to be a symptom and have BECOME the problem.

Repeal the Seventeenth Amendment (providing for the popular election of senators).

After that passed, the States lost their representation in Congress.

Nothing but bread and circuses after that.

Repeal the 16th Amendment (income tax) and 17th Amendment (popular election of Senators).

Impose term limits on Representatives, Senators, and Federal judges.

Add a line-item veto to the president's power.

Reword the 2A to mirror Article I, Section 21 of PA's Constitution: "The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned."

More specifically define the right to privacy.

Edit: OK that's a lot more than 1 thing.  With the benefit of hindsight we can see that the Constitution needs more than one thing fixed.

Quoted: The change that I would make: A well-regulated militia, Being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

took the words right out of my mouth...

Term limits.  Fuck career politicians.

Repeal the 16th Amendment.

1.
The Federal Governments power to tax citizens of the United States is abolished. No taxes or tariffs shall be levied on any goods, services, source of income, or property. The Federal Government is granted the power to tax the tax revenues generated by any state and local government. However this tax must be a flat percentage rate so as not to favor any state or method of taxation and it may never exceed fifty percent. No Federal entity may compel, in any way, a state or local government to increase its tax rate.

(This does three big things. It gets the IRS and Federal tax laws off of our back. It discourages pork spending at the Federal level. And it encourages states to keep their tax rates as low as possible.)

2.
a) All current laws inferior to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitutions of the various states, shall be abolished 5 years after the ratification of this Amendment. Laws may be recertified by the appropriate legislative body at any point prior to their expiration, in which case they shall remain valid for another period not to exceed 5 years. All treaties must likewise be recertified at least every 5 years to remain in force.

b) All bills must be read out loud and in full in the chambers of the legislative body considering the bill before it is voted on.

c) No regulatory agency shall have the power to create or modify laws. Any regulation created by such a body must be passed into law before it gains the force of law.

(What this does is instantly up Congresses workload and  reduces the number of laws we have to deal with. Congress will be so busy dealing with the important stuff that they won’t have time to pass the kind of BS they do now. And really, Congress, the state legislatures, and local governments can pass plenty of laws in five years. That ought to be enough laws for anyone.)

3. Religious speech, expression, symbols, public displays, writings, institutions, organizations, and ideas may not, in any way, be more restricted or regulated in public life than secular speech, expression, symbols, public displays, writings, institutions, organizations, and ideas.

(Government should be blind to religion and treat all religious things the way they treat non religious things.)

4.
a) The power of the Federal Government to regulate interstate commerce is abolished.

b) The Federal Government shall have the power to regulate the transportation of goods in interstate commerce. It may limit or forbid a state to tax either goods moving in interstate commerce or the vehicles and devices those goods are being transported in.
c) The Federal Government shall have the power to set uniform standards regarding the transportation of dangerous goods and the transportation of goods which are illegal in one jurisdiction but legal in another.

d) In no case shall this power be interpreted to give the Congress the power to regulate goods which have previously moved in interstate commerce. It does not give the Congress the power to regulate the quality, content, or manufacturing techniques used to make those goods. It does not give the Congress jurisdiction over the people or places where those goods are sold or over the people who purchase them. It does not give Congress the power to regulate the usage of a good which has moved in interstate commerce.

5.
a) The Second Amendment to the Constitution shall be interpreted as giving an individual the right to own weapons suitable for militia use.
b) The Militia consists of every citizen of the United States of America excepting those who are either imprisoned or under court supervision following a conviction by a jury of their peers for either a crime or mental disability which renders them incompetent. A citizen who had been convicted by a jury of such a crime shall have their militia status restored upon completion of their sentence or their release from court supervision.
c) The duty of the militia is to, protect themselves and other persons from lawlessness, assist in defending the nation from invasion or insurrection, and to overthrow a corrupt or tyrannical government if necessary.
d) Therefore the weapons allowed to the militia shall include, but not necessarily be limited to any standard infantry weapon, any standard police sidearm, and any standard riot control gear found in either police or military arsenals.

6.
a) It shall be a crime for any Federal, State, or local official, elected or otherwise. To expand the powers of the Federal government beyond what is specifically granted by the Constitution.

b) Anyone convicted of this offense shall be executed by means of anal impalement on a wooden post of at least 4 inches in diameter.

Id re-do the 2A by dropping "A well regulated Militia"

Then reconsider all amendments added after the original ones

Quoted: If you could add or change one thing about the constitution what would it be? I myself would change separation of church and state and add fine print to the 2nd amendment

Thats all we need, a theocracy

I would:
-Eliminate legislating powers of the states
-Make ALL federal laws follow the constitutional amendment process to be passed.
-Add an amendment making income taxes a flate rate based off what income bracket you are in.  These are collected by citizens writing checks themselves, gov doesn't automatically take it.
-SS is on an individual account basis
-2A now has a clause forcing gov to make surplus small arms for sale to publc (cmp with M16's M240's etc)

I'd limit all of our specific Constitutional rights and protections to American citizens only.

This is for anyone wanting term limits.

Mexico has a term limit of 1 term for a president.  They aren't doing so well.  The president  has to increase the corruption rate destroying the economy even faster.

Undo anything thats not granted by the 10th and most all problems go away

Few people were as smart as the "founding fathers" who drafted the original.

I wouldn't want to be tasked with changing it.

I'd define the 9th.

I'd also add a hypocrisy amendment to the bill of rights:

The US governement, being a government of the people will not be excluded from any law passed excepting those listed within these bill of right. This government of the people will not enact special laws excluding itself from the law of the land.

Life, Liberty, and Property.

Clarify 2A in absolute terms.
Clarify the commerce clause in absolute terms.
Clarify the elastic clause in absolute terms.


I agree with a previous poster, if they made an honest attempt to understand it as intended, and to follow it as prescribed, it'd be just fine. The changes that are required are to head off undermining attacks, not to fix something that is broken.

Oh man...

Where do you start?

Rewording and strengthening the 2nd amendment so jackasses can't possibly misinterpret misconstrue it's intent.

Get rid of income tax

Get rid of anchor babies

Strengthen the fourth but add a line at the end saying murdering your unborn child is not covered under the right to privacy nor shall it ever be tolerated.

Term limits on congressmen (NO MORE Ted Kennedys and the like)

Severely limit social welfare programs.

For those that receive most of their income from the government, they shall not have the right to vote until they are a productive member of society and self supporting.

NO social security

Interstate Commerce Clause...

Probably some other stuff I'd change too, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Second amendment gets priority if only given the choice of change. It protects all of our other rights, dwindling as they may be.

Voting only by land owners or veterans.

No women

Quoted: Voting only by land owners or veterans. No women

Your plan is seriously fucking flawed.

First, there is ONLY so much land in this country. Land is finite. However the number of citizens this country has is ever growing. The wealthy could buy up land and to try and block people of modest means from being able to afford land and thus being able to vote.

Second, we're not in wars all the time. Not everybody can join the military either for one reason or another. We also would not need a gigantic military that we would have if serving was required for voting.

The no women thing is fucked up plain and simple.  

Add an amendment barring lawyers from ever holding public office.   Everything else would take care of itself.

Quoted: A well-regulated militia, Being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people as individuals to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Clarify the commerce clause, and add more emphasis to the 10th amendment.

I would add a stipulation that no level of government can collect any amount of money from one individual, group, business, or other entity, by any means, and then give or otherwise use that money for the direct benefit of another individual, group, business, or entity. If I worded it correctly (I'd have to get an expert or two to check behind me to make sure there's no loophole), this should eliminate socialism. No welfare of any kind. No farm bill. No subsidizing of corporations. No taxpayer-funded medical care. Probably no taxpayer-funded schools, not sure if I could work that in.

Basically, the government would be forced to collect and spend money solely for things such as public infrastructure (roads, etc), police/military, and other tasks that do not involve one person receiving another's earned income.

Quoted: A well-regulated militia, Being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people as individuals to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Monday, September 17, 1787, was the last day of the Constitutional Convention. Pennsylvania delegate Benjamin Franklin, one of the few Americans of the time with international repute, wanted to give a short speech to the Convention prior to the signing of the final draft of the Constitution. Too weak to actually give the speech himself, he had fellow Pennsylvanian James Wilson deliver the speech.

The following is as reported in Madison's notes on the Convention for Monday, September 17, 1787.



Speech of Benjamin Franklin


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mr. President

I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said "I don't know how it happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that's always in the right — Il n'y a que moi qui a toujours raison."

In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having it well administred.

On the whole, Sir, I can not help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.



americanrevival.org/documents/other/franklin_convention.htm

Just to refresh our collective memory, here is what the Government is there for:

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes;

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States;

To establish post offices and post roads;

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations;

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;

To provide and maintain a navy;

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings;--And

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.


Even the things listed there have been perverted and contorted. The rest of the Constitution is basically about how the government runs, the above listed items are what it can do. That basically shitcans 98% of the entire federal system (pardon my French).

Quoted: I'd limit all of our specific Constitutional rights and protections to American citizens only.

The concept behind the bill of rights are that they are inaleanable human rights.

The Constitution merely verbalizes and enshrines them.

I'd make it read like this.

A note on the sep. of church & state.

The idea is that even Jesus Himself did not force anyone to believe in Him.  It cannot be done, neither should it be attempted.  I say this as an avid Christian (here is my testimony).  Government is force.  It is like fire.  The idea that anyone should be forced to submit to their Creator is what lead (loosely) to the Inquisitions.  It is precisely because the Colonists / earlier Americans were Christians that they understood this principle.  

Jude 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Notice it does not say save any by force.  Think about this one in depth.  If someone is not submitting willingly to God, are they submitting at all?  Submission is, by definition, a choice.  Would you want a wife that was only marrying you because she was forced to?

Now, granted, all good laws will co-incide with Scripture, but they will always be in line with this:

"A wise and frugal government which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government."  - Thomas Jefferson (1801)  

and this:

"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

If you are interested enough, listen to this lecture:

Themes and Lessons from Colonial America

RE-WRITE the 14th Amendment.

Children born of illegal immigrants DO NOT become American citizens.  (No more 'anchor babies".)



T

It does not say that, but I agree it is customarily misinterpreted that way.

(another lecture) The Fourteenth Amendment (also audio only here)

I'll tell you the one thing I'd change: the entire thing. I'd give it a rewrite, just to be clear. And I'd make sure to write it in absolutely clear unambiguous language and include a few new things to be sure.

I'm thinking the second amendment would read as follows:

"Since a well-trained and well-equipped population is necessary to the security of a free nation and its defense from foreign and domestic enemies and is the final recourse against a tyrannical government, all citizens and resident aliens who have not committed high crimes or crimes of a thieving or violent nature shall have the right to keep, train with, carry upon their person, and use in defense of the nation and its Constitution, in defense of themselves and their friends and family, and in sport and hunting, any firearms and blades that exist now or that may exist in the future, as well as all ammunition and accessories thereof. This is a personal right, applying to each individual and not as a collective. There may be no restrictions placed on this right save those which are listed prior to this sentence at time of writing. Absolutely no taxes or fines may be levied on the procurement of these arms, ammunition, and accessories. This amendment may not be altered, repealed, added to, or removed."