Democracy Project/Open Source Constitution

Who has the Right to Vote? Article I, Section 2 states that, "...and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature." According to Wikipedia: "The Constitution does not spell out qualifications for voters; rather, it provides that those qualified to vote in elections for the larger chamber of a state's legislature may vote in Congressional elections as well." Wikipedia

So maybe you already have the right to vote? Do we even need the Bill of Rights to be sure, or can we delete it and just rely on the Constitution? You help decide by editing any of the text below.

Full Text of The Open Source Constitution

The Text Below is the Group Effort of An Internet-Age Community

Intro

We the People, pursuant to form a more perfect union, establish justice and domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, secure autonomy of societal well being, ensure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for these united states of America.

Article. I.

Section. 1.

All Powers herein granted shall be vested in a House of Representatives.

Section. 2.

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of all the United States.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of eighteen Years, and been six Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be a Resident of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State. The actual Enumeration shall be made within one Year after the first Meeting of the House of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of California shall be entitled to choose fifty-three, Texas thirty-two, New York twenty-nine, Florida twenty-five, Illinois nineteen, Pennsylvania nineteen, Ohio eighteen, Michigan, fifteen, Georgia thirteen, North Carolina thirteen, New Jersey thirteen, Virginia eleven, Washington ten, Massachusetts ten, Indiana nine, Arizona nine, Tennessee nine, Missouri eight, Maryland eight, Wisconsin eight, Minnesota eight, Colorado seven, Alabama seven, South Carolina seven, Louisiana six, Kentucky six, Oregon five, Oklahoma five, Connecticut five, Iowa four, Mississippi four, Arkansas four, Kansas four, Utah three, Nevada three, New Mexico two, West Virginia two, Nebraska two, Idaho two, Maine two, New Hampshire two, Hawaii two, Rhode Island two, Montana two, Delaware one, South Dakota one, Alaska one, North Dakota one, Vermont one, Wyoming one, and the District of Columbia one.. When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section. 3.

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the House may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.

The House shall assemble at least once in every Month, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section. 4.

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of a Supermajority, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of a Superminority of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Section. 5.

The Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

No Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of the House during his Continuance in Office.

Section. 6.

No state shall interact with powers outside of the United States unless given permission by the House, in times of emergency, or when permission is assumed to be given.

All actions of a state may be questioned by the House, and the state may be penalized for inappropriate action as determined by the House.

Article. II.

Section. 1.

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:

Every citizen of the United States can, if they choose to do so, vote for the presidential candidate of their choice once per election. The states are responsible for counting the number of votes submitted for each candidate and send them to the House. The House has the responsibility of counting all the votes from the states and determine which candidate had the most votes submitted. A recount can be requested by the House if it chooses to do so. A re-vote can be administered if a supermajority of House members choose to do so. No Person except a Citizen of the United States shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of eighteen Years, and been eighteen Years a Resident within the United States.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the House may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Section. 2.

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the House, to make Treaties, provided a supermajority of the House present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the House may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section. 3.

He shall from time to time give to the House Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Section. 4.

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article III.

Section. 1.

The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the House may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section. 2.

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;-- between a State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different States;--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the House shall make.

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the House may by Law have directed.

Section. 3.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The House shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Article. IV.

Section. 1.

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the House may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section. 2.

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

Section. 3.

New States may be admitted by the House into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the House.

The House shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section. 4.

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature against domestic Violence.

Article. V.

The House, whenever a supermajority of the House shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of supermajority of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the House; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Article. VI.

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

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.

Article. VII.

The Ratification of the Conventions of any number of willing States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

Signatures

Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the UNKNOWN DATE of UNKNOWN MONTH in the Year of UNKNOWN YEAR and of the Independence of the United States of America the UNKNOWN TIME In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

This document has yet to be signed and ratified. Below is a list of the signers and/or contributors to the original constitution, as well as internet contributers.

Original Contributors:

G°. Washington President and deputy from Virginia

Delaware Geo: Read Gunning Bedford jun John Dickinson Richard Bassett Jaco: Broom

Maryland James McHenry Dan of St Thos. Jenifer Danl. Carroll

Virginia John Blair James Madison Jr.

North Carolina Wm. Blount Richd. Dobbs Spaight Hu Williamson

South Carolina J. Rutledge Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Charles Pinckney Pierce Butler

Georgia William Few Abr Baldwin

New Hampshire John Langdon Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts Nathaniel Gorham Rufus King

Connecticut Wm. Saml. Johnson Roger Sherman

New York Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey Wil: Livingston David Brearley Wm. Paterson Jona: Dayton

Pensylvania [sic] B Franklin Thomas Mifflin Robt. Morris Geo. Clymer Thos. FitzSimons Jared Ingersoll James Wilson Gouv Morris

Internet Contributor:

Exos

Ossibuspawn

Roracle

Full Text of the Open Source Bill of Rights

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of UNKNOWN CITY, on UNKNOWN DAY the UNKNOWN DATE of UNKNOWN MONTH, UNKNOWN YEAR.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; save practices that were found to be in violation of the non aggression principle. (I.E. violent crimes).

Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.

Congress shall make no law abridging the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Amendment III

Congress shall make no law restricting the free trade of items, personal or commercial use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, cannabis, coffee, opium, coca, or any of their derivatives or synthetics within the confines of private property. Negligent or violent crimes may still be prosecuted.

Amendment IV

No Federal, State, or Local Law shall infringe on the right of a Person to use their property for household agricultural purposes. Commercial agriculture may be regulated by only the States and Local Law.

Amendment V

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. By the people, it is meant not only individuals within any given State in the Union, but also collectively the people are the unorganized militia in their respective State.

Congress shall have no power to regulate the people's right to ownership, be it of the arms themselves or munitions, nor to define, control, or legislate what the people might bear.

Amendment VI

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war.

Amendment VII

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment VIII

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without willful sale by the private party.

Amendment IX

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment X

In Suits at common law the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment XI

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment XII

Congress shall make no law and have no power to lay taxes upon the people either directly or indirectly, nor shall Congress have the power to issue loans or grants, nor shall they garner wages. These powers shall be delegated to the states respectively, and the people of the states may not be subject to taxation of states of which they do not reside. Congress may take donations to pursue the funding of projects, and may address the states themselves for petition of funds, but may not enforce this upon any state or person, for the purposes of military or otherwise.

Amendment XIII

Congress shall have no power to make any law which set wages for themselves or others.

Amendment XIV

The people of the United States are not limited to the rights enumerated in the Constitution and the absence of a right does not mean it can't be granted. The Constitution only sets the minimum of freedoms granted to citizens.

Amendment XV

The jurisdiction of rights not expressed in the Constitution belongs to the States.