Playing fast and loose with the Constitution for years, and really stretching any connection to the Constitution such as basing health care on the commerce clause when the health care bill specifically ignores interstate commerce, the 112th Congress will commence their session with the reading of the entire Constitution aloud for all of the Members of the House.
Of course that doesn't mean that they'll understand it - only that they will have heard it - and only for those who attend.
Then each time a bill is introduced, the Member must cite its Constitutional authority for that specific measure.
This is great in concept, but the legislators actually have to know what the Constitution says and what it allows them to do - very little actually - before this will work.
I expect a lot of bending will be done and that most of what is introduced will be for the "general welfare" even though that is a very minor concept and not specifcally covered in any of the specific powers of Congress.
Give them an A minus (A-) for effort - we'll see how it works.
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Steve,
It's a good plan, how ever the proof is yet to come.
"Power croups, absolute power croups absolutely!"
Bill
Steve
It might be a good thing if the Congress knew the Constitution. Or would it be to much to ask?
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Knowledge is power-power to change things for the better...
It is kind of funny, Congress is made up mostly of lawyers. They look at the Constitution like they look at any other "law"... they look for loopholes and ways to stretch it.
Bill,
Oh there is a lot that can go wrong with this plan. :)
Steve
Lou,
They will learn where the loopholes are. :)
Steve
Josh,
Congress was never designed to change anything - only to keep things in balance. :)
Steve
Lane,
So true. :)
Steve
Well,
It should be interesting as a spectator sport.
Steve - there have been so many bizarre rulings by the courts regarding the commerce clause. A man was found guilty of violating it because he grew wheat in excess of allowed commercial quantities for his acreage even though it was for his own personal use and not on the market in Wickard v. Filburn The court used the commerce clause to show the Fed had the right to prosecute the use of medical marijuana (gonzales v raich). Interestingly, mostly conservatives dissented but Scalia wrote the finding.
Steve,
I plan on participating. :)
Steve
Mike,
I realize, but the language is quite clear: "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes." Notice it does not say within States. :)
Steve