The Creation of the 28th Amendment

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The Creation of the 28th Amendment

• Proposed on Friday, July 31, 2009

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Some Beginning Thoughts

• How do we define the us? Should it be more
  inclusive or exclusive?
• Amendments in the past have expanded the us.
• A problem today is a local/ethnic definition of
  us and a fear of an internal them.
• Create a more cohesive national identity without
  straying into nationalism.

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Amendment 28

• Section 1 All persons in the United States
  between the ages of 18 and 25 shall be required
  to complete a minimum of 3 months of national
  service in a state other than the one in which
  they reside. 
• Section 2 The minimum military commitment of two
  years will qualify as an exemption to this
  requirement. 

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• Section 3 Congress shall have the power to
  create parameters of service and then enforce by
  appropriate legislation.
•  
• Section 4 The Department of Homeland Security
  shall have no authority in defining what national
  service includes or the implementation of this
  program. (NO toolkit got it?)

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Advantages

• Expansion of national view (leaving the bubble)
• Type of service that one completes is open to
  interpretation
• Suggestion to require urban members to serve in a
  rural area and vice versa
• Builds trust and worth in the American identity

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• Reduces jealousies and resentments of others
• Provides an opportunity to engage in storytelling
  and sharing narratives
• Contributes to social integration and provides an
  educational opportunity
• Tremendous benefit to community in the form of
  contributions, work, and ideas

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• Reduction in crime
• Recognizes and develops commonalities among
  Americans
• Reinforces and allows individuals to keep
  multiple identities.
• Helps people to see the cultural heterogeneity of
  the United States

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• Helps create a civic nation
• Inclusive of ALL people regardless of race,
  religion, or gender
• Part of the adhesive element that binds us
  together as Americans
• Preserves and promotes the UNION

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Disadvantages

• Enforcement by Congress
• Open to interpretation by Congress and the courts
  
• How would this be verified?
• Top down in terms of implementation and
  origination
• The expense and cost factor room, board, income,
  and training

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• Temporary reduction in familial obligations
  (income and assistance)
• Creation of additional bureaucratic agencies
• Liabilities and other potential dangers
• Would foreign exchange students be included?
• The only provision/amendment to the Constitution
  that would require people to do something who
  reside in the country
• Potential loopholes as to what constitutes
  national service