Amending the Constitution: Why Change?

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Amending the ConstitutionWhy Change?
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School of Rock
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The Times They Are A-Changinby Bob Dylan (1964)

• Come gather round people
• Wherever you roam
• And admit that the waters
• Around you have grown
• And accept it that soon
• Youll be drenched to the bone

• If your time to you is worth savin
• Then you better start swimmin
• Or youll sink like a stone
• For the times they are a-changin

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Verse 2

• Come writers critics
• Who prophesize with your pen
• And keep your eyes wide
• The chance wont come again
• And dont speak too soon
• For the wheels still in spin

• And theres no tellin who that its namin
• For the loser now
• Will be later to win
• For the times they are a-changin

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Verse 3

• Come senators, congressmen
• Please heed the call
• Dont stand in the doorway
• Dont block up the hall
• For he that gets hurt
• Will be he who has stalled
• Theres a battle outside

• And it is ragin
• Itll soon shake your windows
• And rattle your walls
• For the times they are a-changin

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Verse 4

• Your old road is
• Rapidly agin
• Please get out of the new one
• If you cant lend a hand
• For the times
• They are a-changin

• Come mothers fathers
• Throughout the land
• And dont criticize
• What you cant understand
• Your sons and your daughters
• Are beyond your command

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Verse 5

• And the first one now
• Will later be last
• For the times
• They are a-changin

• The line it is drawn
• The curse it is cast
• The slow one now
• Will later be fast
• As the present now
• Will later be past
• The order is
• Rapidly fadin

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Questions for Discussion

1. What do you think the song is about, i.e. whats
   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?

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The Constitution and the Amendment Process
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Methods of Proposal
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Methods of Proposal
Method 1 By 2/3 vote in both the House and the
Senate most common method of proposing an
amendment
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Methods 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
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Methods of Ratification
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Methods of Ratification
Method 1 By legislatures in ¾ of the states in
all but one case, this is how amendments have
been ratified
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Methods 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
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Amendment Process
Methods of Proposal
Methods of Ratification
Method 1 By 2/3 vote in both the House and the
Senate
Method 1 By legislatures in ¾ of the states
Or
Or
Method 2 Ratified through conventions in ¾ of
the states.
Method 2 By national constitutional convention
called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the
state legislatures
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The Equal Rights AmendmentProposed 1972

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

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The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)Questions for
Discussion

1. What rights are protected by the ERA?
2. Why do you think the ERA has evoked such heated
   debate?
3. Brainstorm pros and cons of each side.
4. Do you think the ERA should be ratified?

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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

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Political Cartoon 1Title Flag Burning
Amendment
Gary Markstein, Wisconsin, The Milwaukee
Journal-Sentinel , July 18, 2005
, http//www.politicalcartoons.com
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Political Cartoon 2Title Flag Burning
Steve Breen, The San Diego Union-Tribune, July
25, 2005 http//www.politicalcartoons.com
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Political Cartoon 3Title Gay Marriage
Amendment
Mike Lane, Cagle Cartoons. Feb. 26, 2004
http//www.politicalcartoons.com