Add These Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Summary

In a dynamic video, Mr. Beat shares his deep appreciation for the U.S. Constitution while highlighting its need for amendments to reflect modern society. He outlines ten proposed amendments, including lowering the voting age to 16, ensuring equal laws for Congress, reinstating the Equal Rights Amendment, limiting corporate political influence, imposing term limits on politicians, and facilitating a more accessible amendment process. He also advocates for direct presidential elections and increasing House representation. This engaging discussion invites viewers to reflect on constitutional reform while celebrating Mr. Beat's birthday.

Takeaways

• 😀 The U.S. Constitution is a beloved but imperfect document that needs to adapt to societal changes.
• 😀 The Founding Fathers anticipated the need for amendments, leading to the Bill of Rights ratified just a few years after the Constitution.
• 😀 Since the Bill of Rights, only eight amendments have been added in the last 100 years, highlighting the difficulty of amending the Constitution.
• 😀 The founders intentionally made it challenging to amend the Constitution to ensure government stability and protect their ideals.
• 😀 Proposed amendments include lowering the voting age to 16, emphasizing that many young people are knowledgeable about politics.
• 😀 A suggested amendment would require Congress to make laws that apply equally to themselves and American citizens.
• 😀 The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is highlighted as a necessary addition to safeguard women's rights against future discrimination.
• 😀 A proposed 'Saving American Democracy Amendment' aims to restrict corporate influence in elections, responding to the Citizens United ruling.
• 😀 Term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court are suggested to reduce the power of career politicians.
• 😀 The video proposes increasing the House of Representatives to 930 members to ensure better representation and combat gerrymandering.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented by Mr. Beat regarding the U.S. Constitution?

Mr. Beat argues that while the U.S. Constitution is a foundational document, it is not perfect and requires amendments to reflect societal changes over time.

Why did the Founding Fathers believe the Constitution should be amendable?

The Founding Fathers understood that society changes, including technology and culture, and they anticipated that the Constitution would need to be amended to remain relevant.

What is the Bill of Rights, and when was it ratified?

The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified just three and a half years after the original Constitution was adopted.

What was the significance of the Reconstruction Amendments?

The Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) were significant because they aimed to address issues of equality and civil rights following the Civil War.

How many amendments have been added to the Constitution since the 19th Amendment in 1920?

Only eight additional amendments have been ratified in the last 100 years since the 19th Amendment.

What are the proposed changes regarding the voting age?

Mr. Beat proposes lowering the voting age to 16, arguing that many young people are informed enough to participate in elections.

What is the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and why does Mr. Beat support it?

The ERA aims to guarantee equal legal rights regardless of sex. Mr. Beat supports it to prevent future discrimination against women, despite current protections.

What does the proposed Saving American Democracy Amendment address?

This amendment seeks to limit the influence of corporations in politics, asserting that constitutional rights should apply only to individuals, not corporate entities.

What are Mr. Beat's thoughts on term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court?

He supports implementing term limits, believing they would reduce the power of career politicians and encourage fresh perspectives in government.

How does Mr. Beat propose to reform the process for amending the Constitution?

He suggests lowering the requirement for state ratification from three-fourths to two-thirds, making it easier to amend the Constitution.

What is Mr. Beat's perspective on the Electoral College?

Mr. Beat believes that the Electoral College should be abolished and that American citizens should directly elect the President to enhance democratic participation.

What does Mr. Beat propose regarding the size of the House of Representatives?

He proposes increasing the number of Representatives to 930 to improve representation as the population grows, as current numbers do not reflect modern demographics.

What is the rationale behind the proposed amendment to protect voting rights based on political beliefs?

This amendment aims to combat political gerrymandering by ensuring that voting rights cannot be denied based on political beliefs, thus promoting fairer elections.