The Next 10 Amendments: A constitutional amendment to define marriage?
After this week’s historic series of Supreme Court rulings, is it time for a constitutional amendment that defines marriage? Or one that guarantees states the right to determine their own marriage laws?
As part of our Next 10 Amendments project, we’ve asked Constitution Daily readers to give us their opinions on possible amendments about the right to bear arms, a balanced budget, a right to privacy, and laws to put terms limits on Congress.
You can see the results below, and people have made a lot of good points, in a civil way.
Links to Debates: Right To Bear Arms | Balanced Budget | Right To Privacy | Term Limits
The debate about a same-sex marriage amendment should only pick up after the Court’s decisions in the Windsor and Perry cases.
What do you think: Should Congress and the states settle the same-sex marriage amendment issue once and for all?
Here’s how you can participate in our project:
1. Check out the resources in the sidebar at right to learn more about the historical context and current events related to this issue.
2. In the comments below, share your thoughts and explore what others are saying. (Please keep your comments respectful and on topic.)
3. Check back each week for the latest discussion topic.
4. In early September, cast your vote in a referendum on potential amendments, gathered from participant comments.
Our discussion is moderated by Chris Phillips, research fellow of the Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing at the University of Pennsylvania and executive director of the nonprofit organization Democracy Café.
(Note to readers on Yahoo! News: If you want to take part in the debate, use this link and comment at the end of the story: http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/?p=26540.)
