If you could write a new constitution, what are the ideologies you would include?

I asked a fellow poster on a different thread about their ideas of writing a new constitution, and then decided to post it generally to hear other people's ideas.

 

Guns would be a privilege and not some birth right.

 

I would not mitigate any part of the Bill of Rights.
I would put term limits on Congress and the Supreme Court and maybe the Appeals courts.
Kill the 17th Amendment
Make large scale regulations require approval by Congress
Have some Constitutional limit on deficit spending (though I don't have details).
Allow 2/3 of State legislatures to overturn Supreme Court decisions, within some time period like within 2 or 3 years after the ruling.
More definition of the limited powers of the federal government, though the list would be slightly longer than current Article 1
Maybe more.

 

I wouldn't vote to ratify it. The constitution is now a quaint historical document that nobody takes seriously except a few nutter constitutionalists. So why take the time to draft another one when the one we have now is just a worthless scrap of parchment?

 

I would mix Sharia, Communism, Anarcho Capitalism and Bhuddism and sit back and watch the fun.

 

I would not change anything.

 

Couldn't agree more. Especially about the 17th amendment. We really need to address the vertical balance of power. As of now the states have little to no voice in the Federal Govt. That's why we split congress into two divisions. So that the peoples voice would be crossed by the states before making it to the executive branch. The thought process.... and reality was.... that the states interests would largely conflict with Federal interest. And therefore only the best legislation could get through. But because the people now elect the senate there is no check to their power. (I believe in separation of powers to include the people's.) Therefore the Federal Govt has exploded exponentially since Reformation and the 17th amendment. Every decade we've added new branches. Most of which are run by the executive branch. And we've essentially become a socialist nation (ie controlled economy) without the individual benefits of socialism. Therefore the economy is weak. It's pay for play. Businesses no longer have to compete or innovate they simply need to back the right power brokers in Washington and they can use the system to shut down competition. And for the most part.... that means small businesses. Nothing has killed the American Dream more than the vertical imbalance of power within our system.

 

That scrap of parchment has held this Republic together for over 200 years. Had men like Hitler been born in America they would have NEVER been able to seize the kind of control they did. It may be on life support. But it's one of the most successful constitutions in history. If we were to restore it you would quickly see the American people prosper again. Because government is the #1 obstacle to their well being.

BTW nations are either ruled by laws or by people. Government forms ruled by people are generally known as Dictatorships.

 

I would institute term limits on members of Congress, limiting them to eight years.

I would eliminate the 17th Amendment and return to having state legislatures elect state senators.

I would have a line requiring that any law passed by Congress must apply to them.

I would add an amendment allowing the federal government or the states to impose restrictions on campaign contributions.

I would rewrite the 2nd Amendment leaving no ambiguity about the individual right to keep and bear arms.

I would rewrite the part that says the Congress may declare war and that the President shall be the Commander in Chief. I would make it more explicit that the president, or any military officer, or any employee of the federal government, they may not engage our military in hostilities or materially support any war without the express formal consent of the full Congress, imminent attack or self defense excepted.

My two cents ...

 

Lots of countries have held together for longer without that scrap of parchment.

Wake me when it starts getting taken seriously. Right now, it means nothing.

 

I would simply not have ratified the 1787 constitution. The articles of confederation was the most libertarian document ever enacted by a populace with control over its autonomy.

 

Thank you all who have posted so far, it has been quite educational to see different peoples' views. I hope people will keep posting.

 

I like it pretty much the way it is, I would add the right to consume what you want... don't need no government nanny deciding for us... we should all be allowed to self medicate and go to a doctor for advice if we want it

 

I think it's just fine the way it is as well. The only thing I can think of would be something that curbs the governments power to enact victimless crime law. Or, more broadly, anything that expands individual freedom without harming others.

 

Definitely rewrite it. And out in there it has to be rewritten every 50 years. Any document that is 200 years old will get interpreted so many times as to lose its meaning in modern times. Take the third amendment....it's useless today

 

I would make some changes to the 1st amendment protections for religion.

Rather, I would clarify what already exists. Freedom of religion would remain intact as it is, however, wording would be added to clarify what situations religious exemptions should be given in. Health care is not one of them. Neither are upholding your duties of office. You will not be prevented from practicing your religion but you cannot allow your practicing of that religion to negatively impact other people.

I would also state outright that there is a clearly defined separation of church and state.

 

I wrote basically the same thing. Freaky. Lol.

 

That's a valid point, but the government needed a way to raise money. War is expensive, and we were in debt because of war at the time. That's not the only reason for the constitution but a main one.

 

Assure every citizen housing, food, clothing, a job, health care, an education up to 16 years at the government expense and adequate recreation of three paid weeks a year.

Require to be a citizen you must be born to two citizens, but one can fast track citizenship at twenty-one as long as one parent is a citizen and you apply.

Eliminate the freedom of religion to a simple "the government shall not interfere with personal expressions of religion that do not come into conflict with any other persons rights" these spelled out to include gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation, race, color, disability or ideology in the same amendment. So you can express your faith but if you do so in way that violates another persons dignity its banned. And this would also open up taxation of churches and the like since they are not personal but organizational expressions of religion.

No second amendment leave the right to own and use guns to the discretion of the government.

Let States appoint Senators and the House will be elected as it was before.

Let the President get elected as often as they can get elected no more term limits.

Ban any deployment of troops from the National Guard outside a state without the approval of the State this to be decided on how to do so at the State level unless the Congress declares war formally with another nation or nations and it passes.

 

How can you say "held it together for over 200 years"....the whole joints a f....n mess....

 

I would replace the house with a proportional based voting system whereby a national vote would take place, and whatever percentage the party captures has that percentage of seats.

 

`
`
Lot's of good ideas, especially term limits. I would add universal health care for all Americans, including the ones in the service. (This would eliminate the VA).

 

Government is necessary

 

agree....

.

 

there is already a process to Amend it, can't have the party in power every 50 years re-write it

parties would be gerrymandering the constitution....

many on the right would like to take away our religious freedoms
many on the left would take away our right to own a gun

.