Today, for the first time in American History the U.S. Constitution was read aloud on the floor of the House of Representatives to usher in this new era of responsibility and enlightenment of abiding by one of the most sacred documents in American History.
Some highlights….
“There is no crying when reading the Constitution.”
You had to expect that something was going to happen when the House got to Article II, Section 1:
I bet that some Tea Party heads exploded when THIS was read:
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
And THIS…
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
And THIS….
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
A standing ovation was rightfully given when Amendment XIII was read by John Lewis (D GA-5). Though… it is interesting HOW we got to adding Amendment XIII. There was hardly any mention about the “Three-Fifths Compromise” when the House read the Constitution.
Another issue arose when they read Amendment XXI:
2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
3. The article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Wait a minute… What was Amendment XVIII?
Maybe it was because the pages were stuck together in the binder that had the copy of the Constitution in it…
They could’ve borrowed my copy of it.
I admit it’s a little worn, but it has withstood the test of time.
And something else came up when Article VI, Paragraph 3 was read, specifically the highlighted part:
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
On Wednesday when the House convened for the opening ceremonies of the 112th Congress, TWO Representatives were not present to be sworn in and YET participated in Congressional business.
Where were they?
Attending a fundraiser in the Capitol Visitors Center.
Hmmm…. I smell an ethics violation…
Mike Fitzpatrick (R PA-8) held a fundraiser for his swearing-in ceremony. In attendance was Pete Sessions (R TX-32). They were sworn in by Speaker Boehner… when the oath was administered by him while watching the ceremony on television.
Uh…. No. If someone takes an oath of office, they should be present
Congressman Sessions was later seen at a Rules Committee meeting and made a proposal to open proceedings to begin the Republican bill to repeal the health care bill passed by the 111th Congress.
One problem…
Only an official member of Congress can do that.
Yup, it is good that our Constitutional principles have been restored.
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