About That Constitution...

The 112th Congress, and in particular its Republican leaders, plans to read the entire United States Constitution on the floor of the House of Representatives. They might also be planning to require bills to list the parts of the Constitution they rely on for authority. The idea seems to be that these provisions will ensure that people don't pass unconstitutional laws because, you know, things like the individual mandate happen because of sloppiness and not knowing the Constitution.

They are also planning to pass state bankruptcy laws that prohibit states from being forced to raise taxes by bankruptcy judges, with the aim of forcing states to default on their pension contracts with unions. And they plan to pass laws stripping birthright citizenship from the children of illegal immigrants. Ahem:

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

 - Article 1, Section 10, Clause 1

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

- Amendment 14, Section 1, Clause 1

I'm not sure of the bankruptcy thing is unconstitutional, though it's at least as marginal a case as the individual mandate. Stripping citizenship from "anchor babies" by plain statute, however, is one of the most extravagantly unconstitutional things you could do. But remember, it's Republicans who respect our Constitution!