Patrick Leahy: “as I have previously emphasized, the constitutional amendment is not like a statute that we can revisit, fine tune…”

“as I have previously emphasized, the constitutional amendment is not like a statute that we can revisit, fine tune, revise, or repeal. We have repealed only one constitutional amendment in more than 200 years of our country's history. The only constitutional amendment we have repealed was that of prohibition. We ought to remember in this debate that we are being asked to consider an amendment to our Constitution. Before we propose to alter our fundamental charter of freedom--I might say also the blueprint for our representative democracy--we ought to step back from the political passions of the moment. We are debating a proposed constitutional amendment, not just a political slogan, a plank of a campaign platform, or partisan win or lose. The Constitution of the United States is a good document. It is not a sacred text, but it is the best law of any that has ever been written. That is why it has survived as the supreme law of this country with very few alterations over 200 years. It has contributed to our success as a nation by binding us together rather than tearing us apart. It contains a great compromise that allowed small States and large States to join together in the spirit of mutual accommodation and respect. It embodies the protections to make real the pronouncements in our historic Declaration of Independence. It gives meaning to our inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”