New Constitutional Convention

[elwoodblues]

Assume that, for one reason or another, we are having a new Constitutional Convention (having had the experience of living under the existing Constitution for 200 years.) What would change, what would be the same, what would you like to see (and what chance would your like have)?

<u>Government Structure</u>
I would suspect that the President would be popularly elected, or at least there would be a significant change to how the President was elected. Also, the requirement of a natural born citizen probably wouldn't make it. Two term limits would either be extended or removed.

We would still have 3 branches of government with checks and balances. I suspect that the reach of the judiciary would be limited.

Members of the House wouldn't have to re-run every 2 years. Some sort of campaign finance restrictions would be in place. There would also be restrictions on spending/budgets.

<u>Bill of Rights</u>

We would still have a bill of rights. We would still have the same basic first amendment rights (though I suspect that both the press and free speach would be limited in some way).

Amendment 3 would probably stay, though only because it currently exists. Nobody considers it an issue now.

Amendments 4-6 would be substantially different. Fewer guaranteed rights of criminals. I think an overall frustration with the criminal justice system would lead to some pretty significant changes.

Amendment VII --- the $20 cap would surely be raised; there might even be some sort of loser-pays provision put in because of a perception of an overly litigious society

Amendment VII (cruel and unusual punishment, etc.) --- would be better defined, would probably include something that allowed for contemporary standards to be used.

Amendment IX and X --- wouldn't make the cut (IX would be a closer call than X)