An Alternative to Amendments: Many Americans, Tired of Federal Courts Meddling in Their Lives, Have Resorted to Trying to Add New Amendments to the Constitution, but There's a Better Solution

Detweiler, George, The New American

Interest is multiplying both in and out of Congress to use Article III, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution as an alternative to the constitutional amendment process for curbing the excesses of runaway federal courts. The Pledge Protection Act of 2006, introduced by Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), passed the House on July 19 and now faces an uncertain future in the Senate. It would strip federal courts of jurisdiction to rule on the constitutionality of the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. A companion bill in the Senate, introduced by Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), has gone nowhere, and if the matter is to become law this year, the House bill will be the one to watch (and support with letters to your senators).

Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) filed a bill in the House of Representatives on June 5, 2006, H.R. 5528, denominated the Pornography Jurisdiction Act, which provides, in part, "No court created by Act of Congress shall have jurisdiction, and the Supreme Court shall have no appellate jurisdiction, to hear or decide a question of whether a State pornography law imposes a constitutionally invalid restriction on the freedom of expression." The bill …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: An Alternative to Amendments: Many Americans, Tired of Federal Courts Meddling in Their Lives, Have Resorted to Trying to Add New Amendments to the Constitution, but There's a Better Solution. Contributors: Detweiler, George - Author. Magazine title: The New American. Volume: 22. Issue: 17 Publication date: August 21, 2006. Page number: 32+. © 2009 American Opinion Publishing, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.