The Liberty Amendments

The Liberty Amendments; Restoring the American Republic

By Mark Levin

Date Review Posted:  September 4, 2013

Authors:  Mark Levin

Release Date:  August 13, 2013

Web Site:  http://www.marklevinshow.com/

  ***** (A case could be made that I would only review the best of the best because if while reading a book it does not hold my interest, I would not finish it and therefore would not review it.)

Format:  It is really a “how to” book on how to restore the Republic to a Republic and block what the government can do to override its citizen’s desires.

Reason For Reading THIS book:  I find Mark Levin fascinating and very knowledgeable as I have listened to him on his radio show.  When I heard about this book, it immediately became a “must read” for me and I have not regretted that decision.

Number Of Times I Have Read This Book:  One time.   When I finished the book I immediately delivered it to my Louisiana State Representative in hope that he would read it and again, hopefully, take action.

Brief Summary of Content:  

Mark Levin believes, and I agree, that as good as the U. S. Constitution is, there are flaws in the Constitution that enables the government (President) to take advantage of its provisions to grow the size of the government and to bypass the legislative branch through Executive Orders and Regulations written and put into effect by persons not elected to office.  To correct this Levin has written 11 (actually 12 since one contains two) Constitutional Amendments and then gives guidance to demonstrate how these amendments can be instituted by the Legislature, State Legislatures and even citizens.  More importantly, Levin provides the reader with historical background on why the Founding Fathers did what they did and how they anticipated exactly what is happening in America in 2013.

Here are the 11 Liberty Amendments that Levin proposes.

• Establish twelve-year term limits for members of Congress and the Supreme Court;
• Repeal the 17th Amendment;
• Allow either Congress or the states to overturn a Supreme Court decision within 24 months with a three fifths vote of the members of both houses or the states;
• Require a federal budget to be enacted by May or impose an automatic across-the-board 5 percent cut, and the budget may not exceed total tax receipts or 17.5 percent of GDP;
• Place a 15 percent limit on the amount of income taxes collected from natural and legal persons, change the tax-return filing date to the day before federal elections, and ban federal estate, value-added, or sales taxes;
• Require every federal agency to be reauthorized every three years in a stand-alone bill or else expire, and require a seven-member House committee to approve all regulations with an economic burden greater than $100 million within six months or cancel implementation of the regulation;
• Limit the Commerce Clause to preventing states from impeding commerce and trade between the states, and specify that it does not extend to activity within states (whether or not it affects interstate commerce) or to compelling an individual to participate in commerce;
• Extend the protection against seizure of private property to require compensation for regulations that reduce market value or interfere with the use of property in an amount exceeding $10,000;
• Change Article V so that any constitutional amendment, proposed by anyone, will be adopted if it is ratified by two thirds of the states;
• Require a 30-day waiting period between agreement upon the final version of any congressional bill (engrossment) and the final vote to approve it, and allow three fifths of the states to override any federal statute or any federal regulation with a cost exceeding $100 million within 24 months of passage or approval; and
• Require valid photo ID and proof of citizenship to register and vote in all federal elections, in person or by mail, and limit early voting to 30 days before the election (except for active-duty military personnel).

Personally I would add a 12^th Liberty Amendment that would required Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court all to abide by the same laws, regulations and rules they write, pass and expect American citizens to abide by.

Who Should Read the Book?    Everyone!

Final Test:  Would I read the book again?  ABSOLUTELY AND I AM!  Would I give it as a gift?  ABSOLUTELY!