Keep in mind that during the founding period, just about every major figure, including Hamilton, Madison, and Adams, favored extremely limited suffrage. For the the first presidential election, only 6% of the population was eligible to vote and only a quarter of those did. Suffrage has been expanding ever since...until now. Conservatives, aware that they are in the minority, have been ferocious on trying to limit the right to vote, relying on the totally discredited accusation of widespread voter fraud.
This is a problem we seem helpless to confront in the short term. In the longer term, we need non-MAGA presidents and a non-MAGA majority Senate to guard against MAGA oriented Justices.
If Biden wins and Democrats control Congress...okay, a tall order...we can absolutely confront the problem. (See my previous post, The Only Way to Save the Supreme Court.) The larger issue is the omissions in the Constitution...which is why I wrote Imperfect Union...which left gaps that were always there to be exploited by those who would undermine democratic ideals. We've survived periodic threats in the past but never one as acute as exists right now.
I missed that post and have now read it. Would such actions as you suggest require two-thirds of the Senate? Or on matters of the SC such as nominations have we already set the precedent of majority?
Confirmations require only a majority...or Clarence Thomas would not have been seated...sigh. There is no constitutional provision for 2/3 for any legislation related to Article III. If the Democrats can win...and then have the will...this could get done.
Congress can pass universal suffrage but they don’t want to.
Keep in mind that during the founding period, just about every major figure, including Hamilton, Madison, and Adams, favored extremely limited suffrage. For the the first presidential election, only 6% of the population was eligible to vote and only a quarter of those did. Suffrage has been expanding ever since...until now. Conservatives, aware that they are in the minority, have been ferocious on trying to limit the right to vote, relying on the totally discredited accusation of widespread voter fraud.
This is a problem we seem helpless to confront in the short term. In the longer term, we need non-MAGA presidents and a non-MAGA majority Senate to guard against MAGA oriented Justices.
The recordings of the Alito's were very alarming.
If Biden wins and Democrats control Congress...okay, a tall order...we can absolutely confront the problem. (See my previous post, The Only Way to Save the Supreme Court.) The larger issue is the omissions in the Constitution...which is why I wrote Imperfect Union...which left gaps that were always there to be exploited by those who would undermine democratic ideals. We've survived periodic threats in the past but never one as acute as exists right now.
I missed that post and have now read it. Would such actions as you suggest require two-thirds of the Senate? Or on matters of the SC such as nominations have we already set the precedent of majority?
Confirmations require only a majority...or Clarence Thomas would not have been seated...sigh. There is no constitutional provision for 2/3 for any legislation related to Article III. If the Democrats can win...and then have the will...this could get done.