Constitution Legislation - Federal Government

States that pursuant to section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States, Congress has the sole and exclusive power to declare war.

States congressional belief 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 constitutional requirement.

Rejects any suggestion that P.L. 107-40 (the authorization of force resolution approved in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001) or P.L. 107-243 (the authorization of force resolution approved by Congress to go to war with Iraq) extends to authorizing military action against Iran, including over its nuclear program.

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that Congress shall have power to set limits on the amount of contributions that may be accepted by, and the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for nomination or election to federal office.

Declares that a state shall have the power to set limits on the amount of contributions that may be accepted by, and the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for nomination or election to state or local office.

Constitutional Amendment - Grants Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.

Constitutional Amendment - Repeals the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution (authorizing taxation of income).

Constitutional Amendment - Establishes English as the official language of the United States.

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that marriage in the United States shall consist only of a legal union of a man and a woman.

Prohibits any federal or state court from having jurisdiction to determine whether the U.S. Constitution or any state constitution requires the legal incidents of marriage to be conferred upon any union other than a legal union between one man and one woman.

Provides that no state shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other state concerning a union between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage, or as having the legal incidents of marriage, under the laws of such other state.

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.

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.

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that all public elementary and secondary schools should display a copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, in a clear and conspicuous location.

Iraq Security Agreement Act of 2008 - Directs the President to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees respecting U.S. security commitments to, and arrangements with, other countries.

Directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to consult with the appropriate congressional committees respecting negotiations pursuant to the Declaration of Principles between the United States and Iraq.

Prohibits any agreement (or the obligation of implementing funds) containing a security commitment to, or security arrangement with, the Republic of Iraq, from entering into force except pursuant to Article II, section 2, clause 2 (relating to treaties) or Article I, section 7, clause 2 (relating to enactment of laws) of the Constitution of the United States.

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

Celebrates the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Honors the efforts of the 42 delegates who attended the majority of the Constitutional Convention meetings and the 39 signers.

Acknowledges the significance of the ideals established by the Constitution, including the principle of a limited federal government with a system of checks and balances.

Recognizes the Constitution as the source responsible for our nation's ability to withstand calamity and preserve stability.

Constitutional Amendment - Marriage Protection Amendment - Declares that: (1) marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman; and (2) neither the U.S. Constitution nor the constitution of any state shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon any other union.

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that Congress and the states shall have power to prohibit desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for such act.

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the death penalty for the forcible rape of a child under age 12 does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

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.

Life at Conception Act - Declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being beginning at the moment of fertilization, cloning, and other moment at which an individual comes into being.

Congratulates those who participated in the 2008 "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" national competition and East High School of Denver, Colorado, on winning the competition.

Recognizes the importance of civics education and the role such competition plays in promoting the principles of democracy.