List of proposed amendments to the United States Constitution

The List of proposed amendments to the United States Constitution encompasses a variety of proposed changes to the foundational legal document of the United States that have been suggested over the years but have not been ratified. The process of amending the Constitution is outlined in Article Five, which allows for amendments to be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.

Overview

Since the ratification of the Constitution in 1788, over 11,000 amendment proposals have been introduced in Congress. However, only 27 amendments have been ratified and added to the Constitution. The proposed amendments that have not been ratified cover a wide range of issues, from the rights of citizens to the structure and powers of the government.

Common Themes

Several common themes appear in the proposed amendments:

• Equal Rights Amendment - Proposed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. It was passed by Congress in 1972 but failed to achieve ratification by the requisite number of states by the 1982 deadline.
• Balanced Budget Amendment - Aims to require that the federal government not spend more than its income. It has been a popular proposal but has never passed both houses of Congress.
• Flag Desecration Amendment - Intended to allow Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. This amendment has been proposed multiple times but has not secured the necessary support for ratification.
• Term Limits for Congress - Proposes to limit the number of terms that a person may be elected to in the United States Congress. While popular among certain groups, this amendment has not been successfully passed through Congress.

Notable Unratified Amendments

• Titles of Nobility Amendment - Proposed in the early 19th century to strip citizenship from any American accepting a title of nobility from a foreign country. It was ratified by a number of states but did not achieve the necessary three-fourths majority.
• Child Labor Amendment - Proposed in 1924 to empower Congress to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons under 18 years of age. Ratified by a number of states, it also did not achieve the necessary majority for enactment.
• Washington, D.C. Voting Rights Amendment - Proposed to grant the District of Columbia full representation in Congress. Passed by Congress in 1978, it failed to be ratified by enough states within the seven-year time limit.

Conclusion

The numerous proposed amendments to the United States Constitution reflect the evolving values, concerns, and debates within American society. While most proposed amendments fail to be ratified, they play a crucial role in shaping national discourse on the governance and rights within the country.