Jeff Bingaman: “before I discuss my position on Senate Joint Resolution 3, the crime victims rights constitutional amendment, I would…”

“before I discuss my position on Senate Joint Resolution 3, the crime victims rights constitutional amendment, I would like to briefly talk about my views on amending the Constitution. A recent letter each of use received from our colleagues Senator Byrd and Senator Leahy provides some of the history of our Constitution and efforts to amend it. They note that, since its ratification, over 11,000 amendments have been proposed to the Constitution. In the last month alone, the Senate has voted on three constitutional amendments. However, while thousands of amendments have been proposed, only 27 amendments have been adopted. Of those, the first 10, the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. Therefore, since ratification some 200 years ago, we have generally heeded the caution of James Madison, one of the architects of the Constitution, that amendments to the Constitution should be reserved for 'certain great and extraordinary occasions'. In other words, amending the Constitution should not be done in response to what is politically popular at the moment or because of passions of the moment. If it was, I'm afraid many of those 11,000 amendments would now clutter our Constitution and undermine the very foundation of the freedoms and liberties it gives each of us. Mr. President, the victims of violent crime are a compelling group of Americans and deserve our supports and our attentions.…”