Freedom Amendments (abridged)
I. Every
law, or resolution having the force of law, shall relate to but one subject,
and that shall be expressed in the title.
II. The
Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises
to pay the debts and general operation of the government and provide for the
common defense of the United States, provided two-thirds of each house of
Congress approves, and two-thirds of each House of Congress approves any bill
for increasing revenue, and the spending authority of Congress shall be limited
to specific enumerated powers in this Constitution.
III. The
Congress shall have power to borrow money on the credit of the United States
provided two-thirds of each House of Congress approves.
IV. Congress
shall have no authority to make any law to interfere in the commerce of the
people of the United States or law impairing the obligation of contracts or to
mandate actions by any individual including those in furtherance of any
economic or commercial policy; to abridge the freedom of production, commerce
and the voluntary and free exchange of goods and services or to create, or
engage in, any business, professional, commercial, financial or industrial
enterprise.
V. The
Congress shall have power to declare war, provided two-thirds of each House of
Congress approves, and every declaration of war shall expire one year
thereafter unless two-thirds of each House of Congress shall authorize an
additional year, each year thereafter. Congress shall have no power to
authorize an act of war by any bill, order, resolution or vote other than a declaration of war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will
not admit of delay, according to law.
VI. The
several states may nullify any law of the United States, whenever three-fifths
of the legislatures of the several states choose to nullify such law. This must
occur within eighteen months of the enactment of the law as defined in Article
I.
VII. This Constitution,
and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof;
shall adhere to and be interpreted as the organization of the natural right of
lawful defense. It is the substitution of a common force for individual forces
and this common force is to do only what the individual forces have a natural
and lawful right to do: to protect persons, liberties, and properties; to
maintain the right of each.
VIII. The
sixteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is
hereby repealed.
IX.
X. The
judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court
consisting of no more than nine judges who shall serve no more than thirty
years, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain
and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall, for
the thirty-year duration of their term, hold their offices during good behavior,
and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which
shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.
The judges of the Supreme Court shall appoint the officer in charge of executing the administration of justice for the United States. The officer in charge of executing the administration of justice shall hold his office during one term of ten years.
XI. Congress shall have no authority to provide any money to any state or engage with any state to perform any policy, program or other service.