Constitutional Amendment Process
1997-06-18T06:28:13-04:00https://ximage.c-spanvideo.org/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwaWN0dXJlcy5jLXNwYW52aWRlby5vcmciLCJrZXkiOiJGaWxlc1wvMTk5XC8xOTk3MDYxODA2Mjg1NTAwMl9oZC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsiZml0IjoiY292ZXIiLCJoZWlnaHQiOjUwNn19fQ==This briefing was held for congressional staff and the media and the participants discussed how and when the Constitution should be amended. Senator Dale Bumpers (D-Arkansas) talked about his career and said he spent most of it fighting constitutional amendments and worrying about “tinkering with the most sacred legal document in the world” and warned against amending the Constitution on a whim and because of seemingly high public approval. James Courter said it was clear in the Federalist Papers that the Constitution was a framework, not a roadmap, that embodied fundamental principles of government that would always prevail. Abner Mikva said one of the reasons the Constitution was a great document is because every social policy problem had not been integrated into the Constitution. Following the presentations, the press asked questions of the participants.
This briefing was held for congressional staff and the media and the participants discussed how and when the Constitution should be amended. Senator… read more
This briefing was held for congressional staff and the media and the participants discussed how and when the Constitution should be amended. Senator Dale Bumpers (D-Arkansas) talked about his career and said he spent most of it fighting constitutional amendments and worrying about “tinkering with the most sacred legal document in the world” and warned against amending the Constitution on a whim and because of seemingly high public approval. James Courter said it was clear in the Federalist Papers that the Constitution was a framework, not a roadmap, that embodied fundamental principles of government that would always prevail. Abner Mikva said one of the reasons the Constitution was a great document is because every social policy problem had not been integrated into the Constitution. Following the presentations, the press asked questions of the participants. close
People in this video
- Abner J. Mikva Co-Bureau Chief Citizens for the Constitution
- Alan B. Morrison Member Citizens for the Constitution
- Nell Payne Member Citizens for the Constitution
- Robert Peck Member Citizens for the Constitution
- Louis Michael Seidman Legal Adviser Citizens for the Constitution
-
- Virginia E. Sloan Executive Director Citizens for the Constitution
Hosting Organization
Purchase a Download
Constitutional Amendment Process
-
MP4 video - Standard
- Price:
- $6.99
-
MP3 audio - Standard
- Price:
- $0.99
Related Video
-
U.S. Constitution
Judge Abner Mikva spoke about the role of the federal government within the U.S. Constitution and described attempts to…
-
Constitutional Right to Privacy
The Constitutional Forum sponsored this meeting concerning the right to privacy, an all-encompassing term including…
-
Constitutional Amendments
A C-SPAN Short Subject explained the process of creating a constitutional amendment.
-
Flag Burning Amendment
In an excerpt from the floor of the Senate on Flag Day, members offered their opinions on a proposed constitutional…