Amending the Constitution

[question everything]

So Cruz and Walker want to amend the Constitution to leave marriage to the states.

Let's see: amending requires two thirds of the states to affirm. Assuming it gets two thirds in both the House and the Senate.

By my calculations that's 33 states. Until the Supreme Court decision, same sex marriage was legal in 37 states and in D.C., so how can they possibly think they can get 33 states to approve the amendment?

Well, at least they can get 10 extra votes in Iowa..

[virtualobserver]

1. actually 3/4ths of the states to affirm

the founding fathers were familiar with people like Cruz and Walker

[question everything]

3. Thank you. Even better (nt)

[madville]

2. We'll never see the constitution changed again in our lifetime

It's just hot air

[question everything]

4. Correct. I don't remember when was the last time it was

I know that ERA was stalled, was short by two states, I think. And I think that there are few more that never made it.

[madville]

7. 1992 maybe

The 27th amendment, had something to do with Congress pay and I just remember it because it took over 200 years for the ratification process to be completed.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. A Congressional pay raise only applies to the subsequently-elected Congress, not a current one. nt

[CK_John]

5. What about constitution convention the GOP is pushing for all of 2017.

[Initech]

10. That's pretty much the worst idea ever.

I don't believe in going to war, but preventing the corporatists and religious radicals from completely overhauling our Constitution is something that I would go to war to prevent from happening. There is absolutely no good that can come from that. None. Our Constitution isn't perfect but it's the best that we have.

[Yupster]

12. Same with laws

The Constitution will change, but not by amendment, just by continual interpretation.

Same way today congress passes few laws. Laws are changed more by regulatory agencies today.

[former9thward]

6. You are assuming that in all 37 states where it was legal the people supported that.

In almost all of those states it was made legal by judicial rulings -- not votes by either the legislature or people. So in theory an amendment could get passed by the required 37 states.

That said, it is just hot air. This issue has come and is now gone. There have been calls for 40 years to do an amendment to overturn Row v Wade. It has never happened.

[madville]

8. The 2nd amendment won't be removed either

We'll see Supreme Court rulings affect the 2nd Amendment long before it may ever be changed in the Constitution.

[brooklynite]

9. Playing Devil's Advocate...

...relatively few of the States that previously recognized marriage equality did so based on legislative activity or popular referenda, so arguably, they might be happy to support a Constitutional Amendment in support of their prior position.

[Yupster]

11. They could also hold the opinion that

we want gay marriage in our state but we don't care what other states do. That's up to them.