Pending Amendments

[Keith Broaders]

Pending Amendments

When the Congressional Apportionment Amendment was proposed there were 13 states eligible to vote on its ratification. . f Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusett and Delaware became unnecessary

When the Titles of Nobility Amendment was proposed there were 17 and 13 states were  required to ratify the proposed 13th Amendment. If Virginia's ratification vote was recognized the amendment would have  been lawfully ratified. Congressional opponents of the proposed amendment claim that Virginia's ratification vote had not been properly submitted to the Secretary of State. The Constitution states that once the requisite number of states have ratified the amendment it is a done deal. There are no other Constitutional requirements.

When the 17th amendment was proposed there were 48 states and 36 states ratified the amendment in 1913.  Currently there are 41 states that have ratified the amendmen and seven states that have not ratified it.The states of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Utah and Virginias' have lost their right to be represented in the senate without their consent.

Delaware voted against the ratification in 1913, but changed their vote in 2010. If Delaware can change their position for negative to positive other states must be allowed to change their vote from positive to negative.

If six of the 41 states previously voted for ratification changed their vote from Yes to No, the amendment would only the consent of only 35 states and would not have the approval of the required 36 states.

Can state legislatures change their vote on the ratification of a proposed amendment. In 1910 there were 48 states and 36 voted for ratification. Alaska and Hawaii were not eligible to participate in the ratification process because they were not states when the amendment was first proposed.