Constitutional Amendments Quotes:

I do support a constitutional amendment on marriage between a man and a woman, but I would not be going into the states to overturn their state law.

- Michele Bachmann

source: "Rep. Michele Bachmann Talks Earmarks, Obamacare and Gay Marriage; Sen. Kyl on Debt Talks". "Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace", www.foxnews.com. June 26, 2011.

topic: Men, Law, Support, Constitutional Amendments

We seek a constitutional amendment to permit voluntary school prayer. God should never have been expelled from America's classrooms in the first place.

- Ronald Reagan

source: Ronald Reagan (1993). “Actor, Ideologue, Politician: The Public Speeches of Ronald Reagan”, Greenwood Publishing Group

topic: Prayer, School, America, Constitutional Amendments

We don't need a constitutional amendment for kids to pray.

- William J. Clinton

topic: Kids, Atheism, Needs, Constitutional Amendments

I think you may see again a rise at the federal government level for a - a call for the federal constitutional amendment, because people want to make sure that this definition of marriage remains secure, because after all, the family is the fundamental unit of government.

- Michele Bachmann

source: "Rep. Michele Bachmann Talks Earmarks, Obamacare and Gay Marriage; Sen. Kyl on Debt Talks". "Fox News Sunday" with Chris Wallace, www.foxnews.com. June 26, 2011.

topic: Thinking, Government, People, Constitutional Amendments

A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive.

- Noah Webster

topic: Military, Law, People, Military Force, 2 Amendment

I do not support a constitutional amendment to prohibit gay marriage.

- Corrine Brown

topic: Gay, Support, Amendments, Gay Pride, Constitutional Amendments

I oppose a constitutional amendment against gay marriage.

- Ed Case

topic: Pride, Gay, Amendments, Constitutional Amendments, Against Gay Marriage

Unfortunately a Constitutional amendment that would have empowered Congress to make desecration of the United States flag illegal failed to pass by one vote.

- Kenny Marchant

topic: Empowering, United States, Flags, Constitutional Amendments

It is the will of the American people that we have a right to protect our flag and this can only be accomplished by passing a Constitutional amendment.

- Adrian Cronauer

topic: People, Flags, Amendments, Constitutional Amendments

I didnt know that President Bush would endorse a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

- Mary Cheney

source: Mary Cheney (2006). “Now It's My Turn: A Daughter's Chronicle of Political Life”, Pocket Books

topic: Sex, President, Amendments, Constitutional Amendments

If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.

- George Washington

topic: Gun, Government, People, Modification, Farewell Address

The layman's constitutional view is that what he likes is constitutional and that which he doesn't like is unconstitutional.

- Hugo Black

source: News conference, Washington, D.C., reported in The New York Times, p. 38, February 25, 1971.

topic: Views, Society, Likes, Unconstitutional, Constitutional Amendments

With that in mind and in celebration of National Prayer Day, today I have proposed in the House of Representatives a Constitutional Amendment that would restore voluntary prayer in our Nation's schools.

- Nick Rahall

topic: Prayer, School, House, Constitutional Amendments

We didn't pass any constitutional amendments that affected the executive branch while I was governor.

- John Engler

topic: Branches, Executive Branch, Amendments, Constitutional Amendments

I'm knocking our pitiful, pathetic lawmakers. And I thank God that President Bush has stated, we need a Constitutional amendment that states that marriage is between a man and a woman.

- Jimmy Swaggart

topic: Marriage, Men, Thank God, Pitiful, Constitutional Amendments

Instead of giving money to found colleges to promote learning, why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as good as the Prohibition one did, why, in five years we would have the smartest race of people on earth.

- Will Rogers

topic: College, Race, Years, Drug Prohibition, Constitutional Amendments

I believe in the soul ... the small of a woman's back, the hanging curveball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve, and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days.

- Kevin Costner

topic: Sweet, Morning, Believe, Curveballs, Opening Day Baseball

We need a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to control the so-called free speech rights of corporations.

- Hank Johnson

source: "Dem Rep. Hank Johnson: Amend Constitution to Restrict Freedom of Speech" by Eric Scheiner, www.cnsnews.com. November 29, 2012.

topic: Rights, Needs, Speech, Constitutional Amendments

Here in USA we respect someone's rights, and as we profess tolerance, we shouldn't change - or have to change - our basic views on the sanctity of marriage. I believe in the sanctity of marriage. I think it's very important that we protect marriage as an institution, between a man and a woman.

- George W. Bush

source: Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

topic: Believe, Men, Thinking, Constitutional Amendments, Respect Someone

So far, 44 States, or 88 percent of the States, have enacted laws providing that marriage shall consist of a union between a man and a woman. Only 75 percent of the States are required to approve a constitutional amendment.

- Jack Kingston

topic: Men, Law, Unions, Constitutional Amendments

There are more than 30 states, who either by statute or constitutional amendment, have defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.

- John Thune

source: "Sen. Dianne Feinstein talks national security; Sen. John Thune on Romney veepstakes". "Fox News Sunday" with Shannon Bream, www.foxnews.com. May 13, 2012.

topic: Men, States, Amendments, Constitutional Amendments

So now we're after a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a guy-and-gal thing. To the founders, this would have been like an amendment requiring the sun to rise in the east; it would fall under the category of obvious truths that the Constitution need not address.

- James Lileks

topic: Gals, Constitutional Amendments

Bush proposed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Some saw the move as an attempt to preserve traditional values, while others saw it as a cynical ploy to ensure that Vice President... Cheney will never have to pay for his gay daughter's wedding.

- Jon Stewart

topic: Daughter, Moving, Gay, Ploy, Constitutional Amendments

A constitutional amendment for congressional term limits could never achieve the blessing of Congress; it could be initiated only by the states.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

topic: Blessing, Political, Term Limits, Constitutional Amendments

While 45 of the 50 States have either a State constitutional amendment or a statute that preserves the current definition of marriage, left-wing activist judges and officials at the local levels have struck down State laws protecting marriage.

- John Boehner

topic: Law, Wings, Judging, Constitutional Amendments

People for the American Way says it has yet to find anyone who has made a stronger case against the proposed school prayer Constitutional amendment... What kind of prayer would we use?

- Cal Thomas

topic: Prayer, School, People, Constitutional Amendments

I propose a Constitutional Amendment providing that, if any public official, elected or appointed, at any level of government, is caught lying to any member of the public for any reason, the punishment shall be death by public hanging.

- L. Neil Smith

topic: Lying, Government, Sea, Constitutional Amendments

A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages.

- Coretta Scott King

topic: Sex, Gay, Form, Constitutional Amendments, Traditional Marriage

The American people intuitively understand this, which is why the majority of Catholics practice birth control and some of those opposed to gay marriage nevertheless are opposed to a Constitutional amendment to ban it. Religious leadership need not accept such wisdom in counseling their flocks, but they should recognize this wisdom in their politics.

- Barack Obama

topic: Religious, Gay, Practice, Counseling, Constitutional Amendments

Just think - guns have a constitutional amendment protecting them and women don't.

- Eleanor Smeal

topic: Gun, Thinking, Amendments, Constitutional Amendments

I must say this concerning the great controversy over rifles and shotguns. The only thing I've ever said is that in areas where the government has proven itself either unwilling or unable to defend the lives and the property of Negroes, it's time for Negroes to defend themselves. Article number two of the constitutional amendments provides you and me the right to own a rifle or a shotgun. It is constitutionally legal to own a shotgun or a rifle.

- Malcolm X

source: "The Ballot or The Bullet (Cleveland Version)". Malcolm X's speech at Cory Methodist Church in Cleveland, Ohio (April 3, 1964) as quoted in "Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements" edited by George Breitman (pp. 23-44), 1965.

topic: Gun, Government, Two, Unwilling, Ballots

There is no question that under the Equal Rights Amendment there will be debates at times, indecision at times, litigation at times. Has anyone proposed that we rescind the First Amendment on free speech because there is too much litigation over it? Has anyone suggested the same for the Fourteenth Amendment I don't suppose there has ever been a constitutional amendment with so much litigation?

- Frances Farenthold

topic: Rights, Democracy, Speech, Equal Rights Amendment, Constitutional Amendments

The public welfare demands that constitutional cases must be decided according to the terms of the Constitution itself, and not according to judges views of fairness, reasonableness, or justice. I have no fear of constitutional amendments properly adopted, but I do fear the rewriting of the Constitution by judges under the guise of interpretation.

- Hugo Black

topic: Views, Justice, Judging, Public Welfare, Constitutional Amendments

First off, I never favored a constitutional amendment to criminalize abortion or to overturn Roe v. Wade.

- Dennis Kucinich

topic: Abortion, Wade, Firsts, Constitutional Amendments, Roe V Wade

Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be redefined by activist judges. For the good of families, children and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage.

- George W. Bush

source: Fourth Presidential State of the Union Address, delivered 2 February 2005

topic: Children, Gay, Judging, Constitutional Amendments

During the Suffragette revolt of 1913 I[urged] that what was needed was not the vote, but a constitutional amendment enactingthat all representative bodies shall consist of women and men in equal numbers, whether elected or nominated or coopted or registered or picked up in the street like a coroner's jury. In the case of elected bodies the only way of effecting this is by the Coupled Vote. The representative unit must not be a man or a woman but a man and a woman.

- George Bernard Shaw

topic: Women, Numbers, Body, Suffragettes, Constitutional Amendments

No Congress ever has seen fit to amend the Constitution to address any issue related to marriage. No Constitutional Amendment was needed to ban polygamy or bigamy, nor was a Constitutional Amendment needed to set a uniform age of majority to ban child marriages.

- Judy Biggert

topic: Children, Issues, Age, Polygamy, Constitutional Amendments

The traditional religious right's failure to restore public-school prayer or pass an antiabortion constitutional amendment has likely helped fuel the spread of the more extreme dominionist school.

- Jon Meacham

topic: Religious, Prayer, School, Constitutional Amendments

I prefer an income tax, but the truth is I am afraid of the discussion which will follow and the criticism which will ensue if there is an other division in the Supreme Court on the subject of the income tax. Nothing has injured the prestige of the Supreme Court more than that last decision, and I think that many of the most violent advocates of the income tax will be glad of the substitution in their hearts for the same reasons. I am going to push the Constitutional amendment, which will admit an income tax without questions, but I am afraid of it without such an amendment.

- William Howard Taft

topic: Heart, Thinking, Decision, Constitutional Amendments, Substitution

Mr. Roosevelt, this is my principal request--it is almost the last request I shall ever make of anybody. Before you leave the presidential chair, recommend Congress to submit to the Legislatures a Constitutional Amendment which will enfranchise women, and thus take your place in history with Lincoln, the great emancipator. I beg of you not to close your term of office without doing this.

- Susan B. Anthony

topic: Office, Presidential, Lasts, Constitutional Amendments

I definitely do not support a constitutional amendment that has to do with prohibiting gay marriage.

- Dina Titus

topic: Gay, Support, Amendments, Constitutional Amendments

Under my contract with the American voter, we are proposing a series of ethics reforms on day one to end government corruption. They include a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress.

- Donald Trump

source: "Donald Trump’s campaign has become one big airing of grievances". www.washingtonpost.com. October 27, 2016.

topic: Government, Term Limits, American Voters, Constitutional Amendments, Government Corruption

[I watch] all that stuff - Game of Thrones and all the other series. How about House of Cards? As for Boardwalk Empire - that's another period of government overreach, but at least they use the amendment process! In real life, the executive branch, by violating the Constitution, is using statutes in place of constitutional amendments to diminish our liberty.

- Edward Snowden

topic: Real, Government, Games, Executive Branch, Boardwalks

The time has come in our society when I see great wisdom and purpose in a United States Constitutional amendment declaring that marriage is between a man and a woman. There is nothing in that proposed amendment that requires a criminal prosecution or that directs the attorneys general to go out and round people up, but it declares a principle and it also creates a defensive barrier against those who would alter that traditional definition of marriage.

- Dallin H. Oaks

source: Source: www.mormonnewsroom.org

topic: Men, People, Principles, Great Wisdom, Constitutional Amendments

I have introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and make it clear that the Congress and state legislatures do have the ability and the power to regulate and get corporate funding out of political campaigns.

- Bernie Sanders

source: Diane Ravitch (2011). “The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education”, p.224, Basic Books

topic: Political, Citizens United, Campaigns, State Legislatures, Constitutional Amendments

I support and have always supported passage of a federal constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. As President, I will fight for passage of this amendment. My personal belief is that marriage is between one man and one woman, for life.

- Mike Huckabee

source: "Things I do not understand: religion, politics, & the American people" by Lynne Joseph, www.dailykos.com. January 17, 2008.

topic: Fighting, Men, Support, Personal Beliefs, Constitutional Amendments

Of course, such judicial misconstruction theoretically can be cured by constitutional amendment. But the period of gestation of a constitutional amendment, or of any law reform, is reckoned in decades usually; in years, at least. And, after all, as the Court itself asserted in overruling the minimum-wage cases, it may not be the Constitution that was at fault.

- Robert H. Jackson

topic: Years, Law, Gestation, Constitutional Amendments, Gestation Period

The two-thirds rule of the Senate, which can be changed only by constitutional amendment, will no doubt continue for a long time to come. Like monogamy, it is not completely satisfactory, but, like monogamy, it has won general if somewhat grudging acquiescence.

- Thomas A. Bailey

source: "A Diplomatic History of the American People". Book by Thomas A. Bailey, 7th ed., p. 17, 1940.

topic: Two, Long, Doubt, Constitutional Amendments

There are people who oppose a federal Constitutional amendment because they think that the law of family should be made by the states. I can see a legitimate argument there. I think it's mistaken, however, because the federal government, through the decisions of life-tenured federal judges, has already taken over that area.

- Dallin H. Oaks

source: Source: www.mormonnewsroom.org

topic: Taken, Thinking, Government, Federal Judges, Constitutional Amendments