The 18th Amendment, passed in 1919, prohibited the sale and purchase of intoxicating liquors. The 21st Amendment was ratified in 1933 and repealed the 18th Amendment (Prohibition). Does this show that the constitutional amendment process is dangerous and subject to capricious amendments based on flawed or opportunistic do- gooders?

What will be an ideal response?


Actually, the best counterargument is that prohibition is the only issue that was the subject of an amendment that was later repealed. Additionally, the process of passing both houses of Congress and ratification by 38 states is a fairly difficult process that has not been met by some significant social rights issues such as equal rights for women. Many other attempts to amend the Constitution have failed for the reason that the process is a difficult one. Therefore, uniqueness of the prohibition scenario is the best argument that the process to amend the Constitution is significant enough to prevent amendments that are ill-conceived or ill considered by the public. Additionally, the process of amending the Constitution is part of the Constitution itself and should be respected.
Further, many significant oversights by the founding fathers such as civil rights and the right to vote for women have been corrected through constitutional amendments.

Criminal Justice

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