Should the amendments to the Constitution be updated or changed?
Update Second Amendment
The Second Amendment (Amendment II) was adopted in 1791 and it is not suitable for the modern society anymore. We need to ban guns and make our society safer. Too many people are killed by guns each year. We cannot ignore this problem any longer.
Violence is out of control. Guns are a major cause. They all should be banned – the sooner the better.Posted by: AnonymousThe constitution has flaws.
When the constitution was created it had a set of rights, these rights were the base of what we should have. For instance the freedom of speech is a right that should be given but now that we have it's being exploited to show and do things that nearly everyone deems bad.
Posted by: AnonymousTimes Have Changed
We're not living in the 1700s/1800s anymore! Times have changed, and people are pushing the limit of freedom of speech more and more everyday, especially when it comes to online chat rooms, social media, etc. Our country won't survive if we don't have limits to our freedoms! Don't get me wrong, I believe having freedom is what makes the United States of America great, but if our government and judicial system doesn't adapt with the changing times, it will fail!
Posted by: Anonymousyes, because some seem irrelevant to todays standards and ways of living.
Well, some amendments, like the second one, was meant for people to defend ourselves against the government. Today, we depend on the government to protect the people, and they are restricting us with what we can have because there is a lot of crime that is gun related. There has even been one which has been proven unnecessary by another amendment. The prohibition amendment. And i am sure there are others that need to be updated or changed to better suit todays living and governmental standards.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, amendments to the constitution should be updated, changed or even removed/repealed.
Times change, technology changes, society changes and we change with them. Amendments originally changed the constitution itself so why not change, delete or modify amendments? Everything evolves over time, laws and the constitution are no different. If you don't change or evolve with the times you'll go the way of the dinosaur.
Posted by: AnonymousChange is Constant
We are in a everchanging world. So why be afraid of change if it is aready happening all around you. Some amendments are just not up to par with todays society. It still says that African Americans are 3/5 of a human that is riduculous and needs to be changed.
Posted by: AnonymousDocument Needs Update.
Imagine if we are using a computer made in 1985 and we are using it in the present day and it is not compatible for the current time. We need to update the Constitution because the society has been changed and the amendments must be changed except the first amendment.
Posted by: Anonymousliberaldemocrat
The only thing that doesn't change is the change itself. Therefore, the change is inevitable and needed. How can a society catch up with others unless it does not internalize the change in itself in the globalized world? By keeping unchanged articles that protect some social values, all other articles can be revised and changed over time.
Posted by: AnonymousOut of date
Many amendments were made under the circumstances of the time period of which they were made. One example is the third amendment, which allows people to decide whether or not soldiers stay in their homes. This amendment was made during the revolutionary war, when soldiers would take over people’s homes for living quarters, because states had their own militias, and the U.S. didn’t have an established army with bases across the country like it does now. Not many American soldiers are trying to take over our homes nowadays. Another outdated amendment is the 12th amendment, which is the amendment that establishes the electoral college. This was made because they only wanted educated people voting. In today’s society however, people know more about politics and have a more clear understanding of who and what they’re voting on. Candidates just use this outdated amendment to manipulate the voting system. And changing the constitution doesn’t “take our freedoms away”. Even now, amendments can be ratified and repealed, changing them. One example is the 18th amendment which banned all sales of alcohol. When it was found to be a bad idea, they created the 21st amendment, which repealed the 18th amendment. The document itself was an experimental document, made for a society over 200 years ago, for a government style that had not yet been known. Even Thomas Jefferson himself believed the constitution should be changed every 19 years, to be able to stay with the times. Almost all countries that have constitutions change them, or revise them after certain time periods. And simply adding amendments, articles, clauses, sections, etc just turns the constitution into a confusing and contradicting document. Contrary to some others’ opinions there is something wrong with it.
Posted by: AnonymousThe Constitution should evolve with the times and society.
Many things have changed since the Constitution was written and its contents should reflect these changes for the benefit of all citizens. Time
changes everything and the Constitution should keep up with the times.Posted by: MarsBIueChange is our duty as US citizens
As others have stated, even the framers of the constitution expected it to change beyond their lifetime. Jefferson wrote that once you are dead, you have no rights or claims to the land or its citizens and therefore one generation cannot make laws that other generations are expected to abide by unless the new generation agree to those laws. Each generation is responsible for thoughtfully deciding their own future - while learning from previous generations. The whole idea of an amendment implies change. Generally, it is not the original intent or basic idea that requires changing, just how it is applied in the current environment.
Posted by: AnonymousIf an amendment is no longer viable, then it can be changed but it should be done very carefully.
Some of the amendments were created 200 years ago and our society has changed. These amendments are carefully enacted and should not be changed without a huge overwhelming majority.
Posted by: DisillusionedGilberto67
The founding fathers made the amendments for a reason
The corrupt goverment is trying to take our 2nd amendment right away so we are defenceless. Less people die when there are more guns around so why should we ban them. Feinstein wants to ban assault rifles even though it wasn't used in the newtown shooting! There is a video of it being recieved from Lanza's car! The goverment wants to change the constitution to take our rights away! They set up these mass shootings just to take guns away. And they are getting away with it. The constutution is our last defence from tyrannical goverment and thats why it shouldn't be changed!
Posted by: AnonymousNO!
I think that the constitution should not be changed beacuse it hasent been since it was written and i think thats amazing! i mean it has taken us from horses and buggys to the technology we have today. also i think that it would be very hard to change and leave it with the qualities it has today.
Posted by: AnonymousNo, they should not.
Why? Because our founding fathers made the constitution and its interpretation of the laws enforced by it for a reason. Countless times governments in other countries and parts of the world have been "enslaved" or taken complete advantage of their citizens for the worse. Bringing on a false front of helping better their lives, and making their country/community stronger. And on most, and on multiple occasions have they gone more or less against what false promises they've made, bringing the people to their knees.
Posted by: AnonymousNo! Amendments to the Constitution should not be updated or changed.
Once we allow any of the Amendments to be tampered with in any way, we lose our Constitutional rights. It will give the government the options to remove, change or alter, any Amendments they deem necessary for the protection of national security. Americans do not understand how many rights we lost to the Homeland Security Act.
Posted by: LimpingChauncey64I oppose this, because the amendments were meant to last throughout the centuries.
Although the times and people have changed in general, the amendments cover very basic freedoms that have not changed one bit. Each one is still extremely relevant to America and to its citizens. There is no reason or justifiable cause to update them, since they are simple rights that we all deserve.
Posted by: PrettyVince50If something works of course the government would want to change it!
The Amendments are basic and easy to understand and in place to protect all Americans rights! Once the government starts changing them they won't stop until they have all the power and we are reduced to slaves to their wishes. Freedom of Speech, Right to Bear Arms, Freedom to elect our officials, Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment--protecting our rights to liberty and limiting government control! No, don't allow changes!
Posted by: AnonymousNothing Wrong with It
Everyone is saying "change, change!" Why change it if there is nothing wrong with it. The Constitution includes everything. If you don't agree, read the 10th amendment. The Constitution in no way says that African Americans are 3/5 human. I completely agree with "LimpingChauncey64." This idea gives the government the chance to take away our precious freedoms. Imagine an hourglass. Our freedoms are the sand. The small hole that allow the sand to fall is the government and we are the top half of the glass. Over time our freedoms are taken away from us. Sadly, this hourglass cannot be flipped over once more. When our freedoms are gone..they are gone
Posted by: AnonymousI think yes and no
The government should upgrade some of the amendments to more modern times. If the 2nd amendment is taken away then how are people going to defend themselves if their homes are robbed? Just because their banned doesn't mean that people wont still have them. Weed is illegal and yet its still a problem so lets not change our constitution only upgrade a few small things! The contesting is what founded America so if you change it you change America - 8th grade student
Posted by: AnonymousFoundation
Changing any amendment undermines the fundamental precepts under which our country was founded. The constitution is not a document of convenience to suit the times. Right or wrong, current or outdated, if we go down the path of "updating" we marginalize the very democratic ideals of what our country represents.
Posted by: AnonymousThe amendments to the Constitution are a reflection of the history of this country and the rights we are entitled to as citizens, further changes to the Constitution should require new Amendments not updates to the current ones.
The amendments to the Constitution should not be changed. Rules are in place to add additional Amendments to the Constitution if a change is needed. Beyond that, updates and changes that are more in line with today's society should be reflected in court decisions. Judges should be interpreting the Constitution broadly and recognize that the Constitution as it exists today is different than it was in 1791 but that many rights should be strictly construed as to protect those rights. The amendments we have in place were written and enacted for a reason, which should be considered and respected, not changed. Without the amendments that are currently in place, our country would not likely be one with true free speech, free people, checks and balances on authority, and true democratic ideals.
Posted by: RapidGarret59Founding Fathers
The founding fathers set America on the right track, and now corrupt people are trying to adjust the Constitution to suit their needs and ideas. The founding fathers knew this would happen, this was the whole point behind writing the Constitution. The Constitution should not be tampered with. Who is to say that the Constitution should change?
Posted by: Anonymous