STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICHARD J. GORDON ON THE PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGE

Before we could begin to debate on the manner by which we will amend or revise the 1987 Constitution, we must first address the question of whether or not there is a need to amend the constitution. We should tarry a little because the people should be front and center of making changes to the Charter because the Constitution is for the people. Are we empowering ourselves or are we empowering the people? Are we enabling ourselves or are we enabling the people?

In the United States, of the nearly 12,000 amendments proposed to the US Constitution, only 33 have gone to the states for ratification, and only 27 have made it all the way into the Constitution.

Let us find out if there is a need to amend. Is there a need to reinvent ourselves? As I have said, 'What this country needs is not just a change of men, but a change in men.' Perhaps our attitude is what brings it down. The tax of the Constitution is to enable and ennoble our people using liberty and choice, using government and providing opportunity and using sovereignty. Tarry a little, there is something else. It is not a question of how but a question of where we're going.