Law and Government Legislation regarding 'Constitution' in Federal Government

Constitutional Amendment - States that a person born in the United States shall not be a U.S. citizen unless: (1) one parent of the person is a U.S. citizen; (2) one parent of the person is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who resides in the United States; (3) one parent of the person is an alien performing active service in the U.S. Armed Forces; or (4) the person is naturalized in accordance with the laws of the United States.

Commends the Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District in Los Angeles, California, for allowing a rehearing of the decision in the In re Rachel L. case, requiring parents to hold a teaching license in order to legally homeschool their children.

Calls upon the court to uphold the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion that parents have a fundamental and constitutional right to direct the upbringing and education of their children.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Authorizes the Senate Legal Counsel to represent the Secretary of the Senate in the case of National Association of Manufacturers v. Taylor, et al.

Requests that the President issue a proclamation each year recognizing the anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln.

Encourages state and local governments and local educational agencies to devote sufficient time to study and appreciate the reverence and respect Abraham Lincoln had for the significance and importance of the Declaration of Independence in the development of American history, jurisprudence, and the spread of freedom around the world.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Requests that the President issue a proclamation each year recognizing the anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln.

Encourages state and local governments and local educational agencies to devote sufficient time to study and appreciate the reverence and respect Abraham Lincoln had for the significance and importance of the Declaration of Independence in the development of American history, jurisprudence, and the spread of freedom around the world.

Constitutional Amendment - Authorizes the President to make a line item veto of any appropriation in any bill, order, resolution, or vote presented for signature into law.

Declares that any legislation the President approves and signs, after being amended with a line item veto, shall become law as so modified.

Requires the President to return those portions of the legislation that contain reduced or disapproved appropriations, with objections, to the House where such legislation originated.

Authorizes Congress to separately consider any reduced or disapproved appropriations in the manner prescribed under section 7 of Article I for vetoed bills.

Congressional Oversight of Iraq Agreements Act of 2007 - Directs the Legal Advisor to the Secretary of State to provide Congress with the justification (including the constitutional authority) for the President's decision to deny Congress its constitutionally protected role by concluding an agreement on the future of the security relationship between the United States and Iraq as an executive agreement.

Expresses the sense of Congress that any bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq involving "commitments or risks affecting the nation as a whole," including a status of forces agreement (SOFA), that is not a treaty approved by two-thirds of the Senate under Article II of the Constitution or authorized by legislation does not have the force of law. Prohibits the use of funds to carry out such an agreement.

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a two-thirds rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts.

Requires a two-thirds rollcall vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit.

Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually.

Requires a two-thirds rollcall vote of each chamber for final adoption of any bill to increase the internal revenue.

Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Constitutional Amendment - States that Congress shall have the power to regulate the raising and spending of money, including through setting limits, for campaigns for nomination for election to, or for election to, federal office.

Gives a state the power to regulate the raising and spending of money for state or local ballot initiatives, referenda, plebiscites, or other similar ballot measures and campaigns for nomination for election to, or for election to, state or local office.

Gives Congress the power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Constitutional Amendment - States that Congress shall have the power to regulate the raising and spending of money, including through setting limits, for campaigns for nomination for election to, or for election to, federal office.

Gives a state the power to regulate the raising and spending of money for state or local ballot initiatives, referenda, plebiscites, or other similar ballot measures and campaigns for nomination for election to, or for election to, state or local office.

Gives Congress the power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

James Madison Memorial Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes the James Madison Memorial Commission to plan for the design and construction of a memorial in Washington, D.C., as a tribute to the many accomplishments of James Madison, who was the fourth President of the United States.

AMERICA Act of 2007: A Modest Effort to Read and Instill the Constitution Again - Expresses the sense of Congress that since Members of Congress swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States, write laws regarding the powers granted to the government, and propose constitutional amendments, they should be required to read this important document, including its amendments.

Directs every Senator and Representative to obtain copies of the Constitution, distribute them to their staff, and require the staff to read it at least once during each session of Congress.

Censures President George W. Bush and Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and condemns them for: (1) undermining the rule of law and the separation of powers; (2) disregarding statutes, treaties, and the Constitution; and (3) repeatedly misleading the American people.

Constitutional Amendment - Provides that a presidential pardon or reprieve shall become effective only on the review and consent of two-thirds of the Justices of the Supreme Court pursuant to finding that such pardon or reprieve is consistent with the interests of justice and does not undermine the effectiveness, integrity, and impartiality of the federal criminal justice system.

Censures President George W. Bush and Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and condemns them for: (1) undermining the rule of law and the separation of powers; (2) disregarding statutes, treaties, and the Constitution; and (3) repeatedly misleading the American people.

Directs the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives to investigate whether Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States, should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Congratulates East High School of Denver, Colorado, on winning the 2007 "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" competition.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Authorizes the printing of the following as House documents: (1) the edition of the brochure entitled "How Our Laws Are Made"; (2) the 2007 edition of the document-sized, annotated version of the U.S. Constitution; and (3) the 23rd edition of the pocket version of the U.S. Constitution.

Judicial Conduct Act of 2007 - Amends the federal judicial code to define the treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors for which a justice or judge of the United States, according to Articles II and III of the U.S. Constitution, shall be removed from office.

Constitutional Amendment - States that a person born to a mother and father, neither of whom is a citizen of the United States nor a person who owes permanent allegiance to the United States, shall not be a citizen of the United States or of any state solely by reason of U.S. birth.

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts.

Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually.

Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Requires the appropriate congressional committees to report implementing legislation to achieve a balanced budget without reducing the disbursements of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to achieve that goal.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Observes the 40th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia.

Commemorates that case's legacy in: (1) ending the ban on interracial marriage in the United States; and (2) recognizing that marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man" at the heart of the 14th Amendment protections.

Thailand Democracy Act of 2007 - Terminates the designation of Thailand as a major non-NATO ally of the United States until the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the government of Thailand has drafted a new constitution, held a national referendum to approve such constitution, and scheduled a date for national elections for a new government.

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that judicial interpretations of the U.S. Constitution should not be based on judgments, laws, or pronouncements of foreign institutions unless such judgments, laws, or pronouncements inform an understanding of the original meaning of the Constitution.

Constitutional Amendment - Health Protection Amendment of 2007 - Declares that health care, including care to prevent and treat illness, is the right of all U.S. citizens and necessary to ensure the strength of the nation.

National Park Second Amendment Restoration and Personal Protection Act of 2007 - Prohibits any federal regulation from restricting any individual from possessing or carrying a firearm if that restriction is based upon the fact that the individual is in a unit of the National Park System.

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits anything in the Constitution, including amendments, from being construed to prohibit voluntary prayer or require prayer in a public school, or to prohibit voluntary prayer or require prayer at a public school extracurricular activity.

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits anything in the Constitution, including amendments, from being construed to prohibit voluntary prayer or require prayer in a public school, or to prohibit voluntary prayer or require prayer at a public school extracurricular activity.

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits denying or abridging equality of rights under the law by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits denying or abridging equality of rights under the law by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Directs the Senate Legal Counsel to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of the Senate in support of Appellee Brad Hanson in Office of Senator Mark Dayton v. Brad Hanson, to protect the Senate's interest in the proper application of the Speech or Debate Clause to civil actions brought under the Congressional Accountability Act.

United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of State, in cooperation with the government of Poland, to establish a United States-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Program.

Enumerated Powers Act - Requires each Act of Congress to contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act. Declares that failure to comply with this requirement shall give rise to a point of order in either chamber of Congress.

Constitutional Amendment - Authorizes the President, in the case of any bill, order, resolution, or vote presented by the House of Representatives and the Senate, to decline to approve in whole any dollar amount of discretionary budget authority, any item of new direct spending, or any tax benefit.

Affirms that: (1) initiating military action against Iran without congressional approval does not fall within the President's "Commander-in-Chief" powers under the Constitution; and (2) seeking congressional authority prior to taking military action against Iran is not discretionary, but a legal and consti