In the 230 years since the Bill of Rights was ratified by the 13 states, America has grown from a coastal nation with less than 4 million citizens to a massive coast to coast nation with 320 million citizens. We have technologically advanced from single shot muzzle loading rifles to automatic and semi-automatic weapons that are capable of firing hundreds of high-energy rounds per minute. We have progressed from a nation with no electricity, no paved highways, no electricity, no instant communications of any kind, and communications so between Europe and the United States that in 1814, we had the Battle of New Orleans weeks after the war was over because neither side got the word yet.
By 1787, our government knew that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate to meet the needs of our nation’s governance, and our nation’s leaders decided that a new guiding document, the existing United States Constitution was needed. Because our nation had recently thrown off the yoke of a despotic royalty, people demanded that personal rights be enunciated in this new Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were appended to the Constitution.
A lot of things can, and have changed in 230 years. I believe it is time to revisit the existing amendments we have, and add a few more to address changes brought about by technology, by defective legislation, by what I and many others believe to be incorrect interpretations of our constitution by our courts, and misguided theories of law and the constitution by people who hold enormous power to get messaging to the American People, from whom all political power resides.
I have proposed a set of seven new Amendments, and leave them open for comments, adjustments, propose your own, I didn’t come up with everything, and if you, the reader, feel I missed something or you have contributions of you own, please feel free to add in comments.
BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Equal Rights. All men and women are created equally. Congress shall make no law abridging the right of any person to vote, hold political office, and hold any job, on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, national origin, language or any other status.
Voting Rights. Every citizen shall have the right to vote in all elections upon attainment of the age of 18 years old. Voter registration will not be denied if the citizen will attain the age of 18 years old prior to the next election, special, primary or general. States will retain the right to limit voting to persons incarcerated or on parole or probation for felonies. Once the citizen has been released from state or federal supervision for felonies, the right to vote is also fully restored to the person.
A verifiable paper trail is required for each ballot in each election, in the event that a recount is required.
Mailed ballots with postmarks on or prior to voting day will be considered valid and counted, regardless of when received by the vote counting center.
No law abridging the right of citizens to vote shall be enacted. No law or impediment of the right of any citizen to vote shall be enacted. No institutional barriers, literacy tests, poll tax, or administrative procedures that create a barrier to voting shall be enacted. Voting is a protected human right.
The population of the States and the United States has increased to the extent that voting on a single day is insufficient to allow all Electors easy and reasonable access to balloting. A uniform standard for early and absentee voting will be established by Congress. This period will be at least one month prior to any election where federal officers are standing for office, and shall include open voting on all seven days of each week, as a means to not require voting on the Sabbath of any religion or faith system.
Environment. No law or regulation damaging to the right of citizens to enjoy the benefits of clean air, water, including ground water, shall be enacted. Protection of all aspects of environmental protection is a protected human right.
Corporate Person hood. All business entities organized under the laws of the United States of America, all States, Districts and Territories can be brought to court or other adjudication bodies as an entity. However, a business entity cannot be considered to be a Person. Business entities have no right to vote. Business entities are responsible to meet the obligations of all laws and regulations, and to pay all taxes levied by law in the United States of America, all States, Districts and Territories. Business entities organized under the laws of the United States of America all States, Districts and Territories, all Executives, Boards of Directors, Trustees or other designated responsible persons under law can be held to account under the laws of the United States, States, State political subdivisions, Districts and Territories for all matters, criminal and civil.
Campaign Finance. Business entities organized under the laws of the United States of America, States, Districts and Territories are now and forever prohibited from donating to electoral campaigns of any candidate, or ballot measure, initiative petition or other public measure subject to a vote of US Persons. Congress shall enact laws requiring disclosure of all campaign contributions at least 10 days prior to any election. Contributions to political campaigns are prohibited closer than 10 days prior to any election. The right to free and fair elections with candidates not obligated to special interests is a protected human right.
Money is not speech. One citizen’s ability to accumulate money or other wealth does not cause the government, the courts or this constitution to value one person’s speech more than the speech of one person with lesser cash and other resources.
Health Care. Congress shall enact legislation and funding to enable every person access to comprehensive health care coverage including physician visits, hospitalization when necessary, medication or other medical services. A pre-existing medical condition shall not be an impediment to receiving health care, nor will annual or lifetime caps be permitted. Health care is a protected human right.
Well-regulated militia. A well-regulated militia is defined as any National Guard unit under civilian control, any military reserve unit Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine or Coast Guard that is under civilian control. All members of these well-regulated militia units under civilian control shall have a defined Chain of Command, and all members of these well-regulated militia units shall Swear (or Affirm) to the defense of the Constitution of the United States of America from all threats, foreign or domestic.
Weapons of war and ammunition shall remain under the control of the Chain of Command and the Civilian authority.
This is an incomplete list. Please feel to write your own, correct problems you see with mine, fix the legal language, whatever. My personal belief is that an amendment should be short, concise, not subject to interpretation or in any way vague. Thank you for reading, and please comment.