constitutional amendment study and consensus league of women voters of maine league of women voters...
TRANSCRIPT
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Constitutional Amendment Study
and ConsensusLeague of Women Voters of Maine
League of Women Voters of Oakland, CA
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LWVUS Program 2014 - 2016Structures of Democracy
Redistricting Task Force
Constitutional Amendment Study
Money In Politics Review
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Why Conduct Studies?
Consider all sides
Members understand & agree
Position for action
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Why These? Why Now?
Redistricting Task Force
Constitutional Amendment Study
Money in Politics Review
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PA-7, Washington Post
Redistricting: Time to Gear Up for 2021
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Constitutional Amendment
Why this study?
Public pressure to amend the Constitution
Balanced budget Citizens United
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Calls for Constitutional Convention
Balanced budget – 27 states?
Balanced Budget Forever http://balancedbudgetforever.com/progress/
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Who?
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Money in Politics Review
Add picture
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What’s Changed since Buckley?
Mark Schmitt, CNN, 2/16/2015
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What’s Changed since Citizens United?
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Structures of Democracy
Redistricting – no deadline
Constitutional Amendment – 12/1/15
Money in Politics Review – 2/1/16
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Study Process
Discuss the issues
Develop consensus
Submit the results
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Final Steps
Compile results
Draft final position
LWVUS Board approves position
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This consensus meeting
Facilitator (discussion leader)
Presenter(s) (content expert)
Time keeper
Recorder
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What is Consensus?
Sense of the members
Not a vote!
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Agenda
Welcome and IntroductionsOrientationPart 1: Constitutional amendment
processPart 2: Constitutional convention
processPart 3: Balancing questionsWrap up and next steps
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Ground Rules
Speaking time is limited -- use it fairly.Everyone is encouraged to share views.Every view has merit and will be
respected. Listen to learn and not to debate. Disagreement is welcome.
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Ground Rules - continued
Differences are useful to the learning process.
Direct criticism to the content and not the person.
Dissenters often hold the key to the wisdom of the group.
Relax and participate fully.
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Constitutional Amendment Study
ScopeThree parts
How evaluate proposed amendment
Constitutional ConventionLeague process
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Proposing Amendments under Article V
EITHER
2/3 both Houses of Congress
and 3/4 State Legislatures ratify
OR
2/3 State Legislatures call for Convention
and 3/4 State Legislatures ratify
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Ratifying Amendments under Article VSpecified by Congress
EITHERRatified by Legislatures of three fourths of the States
ORRatified by Conventions in three fourths of the States
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Article V History
One Constitutional Convention — 1787
27 amendments since
All 27 amendments initiated by Congress
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More on Article V
Not incorporated into body
Congress may set time limits on ratification
No Presidential approval required
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Warm Up Exercise
Proposed amendments: likes and dislikes
Current study = process, not specific amendments
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Constitutional Amendment
Part 1: Criteria for supporting or opposing a particular Constitutional Amendment
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Part I - Considerations for Evaluating Constitutional Amendment Proposals
1. Which of the following five criteria (a-e) should or should not be a consideration in identifying an appropriate and well-crafted amendment?
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Part I - Considerations for Evaluating Constitutional Amendment Proposals
a) Whether the public policy objective addresses matters of such acute and abiding importance that the fundamental charter of our nation must be changed.
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Part I - Considerations for Evaluating Constitutional Amendment Proposals
b) Whether the amendment as written would be effective in achieving its policy objective.
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Part I - Considerations for Evaluating Constitutional Amendment Proposals
c) Whether the amendment would either make our political system more democratic or protect individual rights.
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Part I - Considerations for Evaluating Constitutional Amendment Proposals
d) Whether the policy objective can be achieved by a legislative or political approach that is less difficult than a constitutional amendment.
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Part I - Considerations for Evaluating Constitutional Amendment Proposals
e) Whether the public policy objective is more suited to a constitutional and general approach than to a statutory and detailed approach.
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
It’s never been done!
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
Lots of open questions!What rules?Who chooses delegates?How many delegates? . . . And more
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
2. Which of the following conditions (a-g) should or should not be in place for an Article V Constitutional Convention initiated by the states?
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
a) The Convention must be transparent and not conducted in secret.
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
b) Representation at the Convention must be based on population rather than one state, one vote.
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
c) State delegates must be elected rather than appointed.
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
d) Voting at the Convention must be by delegate, not by state.
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
e) The Convention must be limited to a specific topic.
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
f) Only state resolutions on a single topic count when determining if a Convention must be called.
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
g) The validity of state “calls” for an Article V Constitutional Convention must be determined by the most recent action of the state. If a state has enacted a rescission of their call, that rescission should be respected by Congress.
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Part II - Aspects of an Article V Constitutional Convention
3. Should the League oppose an Article V Constitutional Convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution because of unresolved questions about the powers and processes of such a convention?
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Part III – Balancing Questions
Balance between League position and a Constitutional Amendment or
an Article V Constitutional Convention
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Part III – Balancing Questions
4. Should the League consider supporting a Constitutional amendment that will advance a League substantive position even if:
a) There are significant problems with the actual amendment as proposed?
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Part III – Balancing Questions
4. Should the League consider supporting a Constitutional amendment that will advance a League substantive position even if:
b. It is being put forward by a procedural process the League would otherwise oppose?
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Good work, everyone!
Congratulations on completing the League of Women Voters Consensus on the Constitutional Amendment Process