Evening star., 1937-12-27
Easy Amendment.

There have always been those who
wished to make 1t easier to change or
amend the Constitution. The argument
advanced always has been the same
the people should rule. meaning a ma
jority Of the people. The people should
rule, but 1t is clear that II the funda-
mental law Of the land could be changed
overnight and at the whim of a ma
jority of the people, there would be little
stability about the Government of the
United States or the freedom and lib
erty of the American people.
When the Constitution was written it
set up a form of representative govern
ment. Provision was made for the cleo
ton OF a House of Representatives by
direct vote OF the people in each con-
gressional district. The other legisla-
tive house, the Senate, was to be elected
by the members of the State Legisla-
lures. Even the President of the United
States and the Vice President were to be
chosen, not BY direct vote Of the people,
but by an electoral college, with each
State picking its own electors How far
the American people already have de-
parted from this representative form of
government it is easy to measure.
Early in the history of the country it
became quite clear that the people would
not long agree to the selection of their
Chief Executive by an electoral college
they wanted hand in it themselves
The consequence has been that through
the erection of partisan political organi-
cations the people have dominated in
these elections. 1t would bold presi-
Dental elector in these days who at
tempted to vote his own individual opin-
ion for President If it did not coincide
with the opinion of the people who had
elected him. The electoral college sur
wives in name only.
A comparatively few years ago the
Constitution was amended to provide for
the direct election of Senators by the
people, taking their choice out of the
hands of the State Legislatures. Cor
ruption in the election of Senators by
the Legislatures had been charged-and
IN . few cases proven. This amend
ment to the Constitution was ratified
by three-fourths Of the States in 1913,
just q year after 1t had been submitted
to them.
1t Is now proposed by Senator Norris
OF Nebraska that the Constitution be
amended 50 as to have q direct vote of
the people on proposed amendments to
that document. At present an amend
ment is submitted to the States by Con-
gress, each house having registered its
approval by a two-thirds or greater vote.
In order to become a part of the Con-
stitution, an amendment must be rati-
fled by three-fourths Of the States
through favorable action by the State
Legislatures, or by special constitutional
conventions elected in each State. SEN
ator Norris believes that the ratification
Of amendments submitted by the Con-
gress should be by Z vote of the people
in the next general election in each State.
And 1t is urged that such 4 direct vote
OF the people would make it easier to
amend the Constitution, presumably in
the way they desire 1t amended.
There have in recent years been many
charges that the Constitution was too
dimcult to amend Even President
Roosevelt, who desired things done by
laws which have been held by the courts
in violation Of the Constitution, turned
his back on submitting a constitutional
amendment on the theory that it would
take too long to obtain results He
preferred to revamp the membership Of
the Supreme Court in order to obtain
the kind OF interpretations Of the Con-
stitution he desired.
The trend has been more and more
toward direct action by the people in
this country and away from representa-
tive government. The trend also has
been more and more toward placing
government in the hands of the Exec
utive, more toward a personal govern
ment than government by law.
1t should be remembered, however,
that when the people have desired
strongly to amend their Constitution
they have found 1t possible to do so, and
to do so with considerable speed. 1t is
only where, very considerable section
of the people have opposed an amend