Is This Constitutional?

Tue   5 Dec 2006   9:46 by Kevin McGehee 33° and sunny 3 comments [Yippee-Ki-Yay!]

D.C. officials yesterday cheered the Utah Legislature’s approval of a redistricting map that is key to the District’s voting rights bill, saying the development brings city residents one step closer to having a vote in the House. “I do think we can move this bill,“ said D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who co-sponsored the D.C. Voting Rights Act. “The main problem is time.“ Mayor-elect Adrian M. Fenty, who met with House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi last week and discussed the bill’s prospects, said that Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, told him she would move aggressively for the bill. “I remain optimistic that the bill will move this week,“ said Mr. Fenty, a Democrat. “And if it doesn’t, I’m hopeful it will be at the top of the legislative agenda in 2007.“ » Washington Times:   Utah redistricting brings D.C. closer to vote Somebody help me out here. Does Congress have the power to bestow voting congressional representation on a non-state, absent a constitutional amendment permitting it to do so? If this thing flies, what’s to prevent future congresses from allowing Puerto Rico or Guam to elect voting members of Congress? Where does it stop?

 

CGHill said: Article I, Section 2 begins: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States… This would seem to suggest that People not in States will not choose Members.  And the District is still not a State. » Tue   5 Dec 2006   19:49 Kevin McGehee said: And one would think such plain language would settle the matter. But these are members of Congress we’re talking about. If they want to give Hugo Chavez a vote, they will. » Tue   5 Dec 2006   21:07 David Gonzalez said: Somebody help me out here. Gladly—-which way did you come in?  : ) » Tue   5 Dec 2006   22:24 You must be registered and logged in to comment.