XXVIII Amendment
This group exhibition is the result of a class assignment I gave to Visual Studies students in the course Visual Studies Seminar: Global Citizens (VS 2004). Students read the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and watched recorded interviews with legal scholars discussing both originalist and pragmatist interpretations of the Constitution. They were then tasked with writing their own amendments to the US Constitution, creating a visual image that reflected it, and writing a short research-based essay that explained their work (the essays are not included here). The following questions, along with group discussion, helped guide students’ work:
Do you view the Constitution as a legal contract (like a mortgage or student loan) that we are each bound to follow exactly?
Or do you view the Constitution as a living document that changes over time.
What, if anything, do you believe is outdated in our Constitution?
What, if anything, do you believe should be added to our Constitution?
What values inherent in the Constitution do you hold as your own?
Does current politics reflect your values?
Was there anything in the text itself that surprised you about the Constitution? For example, was there anything you realize now that you misunderstood?
Who is imagined as “We the People” in this document? Who is not?
Finally, what would you add to make this a more perfect document?
I commend our students for their thoughtful and passionate engagement with the issues raised in this project, and echoed so forcefully in the wider body politic. Here are some of the results of their reckoning with these timely matters
Dr. Leah Modigliani
Associate Professor of Visual Studies
Tyler School of Art and Architecture
Section I.
After six months from the ratification of this article, the corporate structure and systems of all private and for-profit immigrant detention centers and private prisons who house immigrants will be prohibited. Political lobbying to increase incarceration of immigrants for increased profit will hereby be prohibited in the United States. No politician of congress, nor governor, nor president may accept donations or have business with detention centers. Any form of profit from these organizations is prohibited.
Section II.
Reparations will be provided to those citizens or non-citizens who have suffered from forced detention, whose forcible detention has been of profit to other persons or businesses, and who have so faced unethical treatment from this nation.
“Lady Liberty” 2020, Acrylic on canvas and Photoshop, 11” x 17”
Emalee Douglass, TYL ‘22, Visual Studies
Instagram: @emalee_douglass
Amendment XXVIII
No person shall be eligible to the Office of President, Vice President, or Senate who has not attained the age of thirty five years, is currently the age of seventy years, or has surpassed the age of seventy years. No person shall maintain or prolong their respective offices upon reaching the age of seventy.
"The American Brain,” 2020, Digital.
Alex Logan, TYL ‘20, Visual Studies
Instagram: @croakingtoad
The revised 13th:
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
“Chains,” 2020, paper maché, 54”
Madyson Bryan, TYL ‘21, Visual Studies
Instagram: @maddypb
Whole Healthcare Amendment
Upon ratification, healthcare will be guaranteed as a human right for every American citizen and registered guest workers. All for-profit healthcare will turn into non-profit organizations.
“Whole Healthcare,” 2020, Digital Illustration
Janice Kim, TYL ‘22, Visual Studies
Instagram: @kimscatalogue
In acknowledgement of the failures of the Constitution to form or maintain a fair, just, and equitable Union, we the People of the United States order its final Amendment.
Amendment XXVIII
Section I.
The Constitution of the United States, its prior Amendments, and the branches of Government and their functions formed therein are henceforth dissolved.
Section II.
Establishing and maintaining the health and welfare of every Person, whether a Citizen of the United States or of the World, will take precedence to maintaining any future form of Government or legislation set up by the United States.
Notes
The United States will presently transition to National and State Parliamentary systems, electing members by Choice Voting. We the People will aspire to improvement, disavowing permanence; the terms of this system are therefore not set out in this Amendment and are subject to change.
“Amendment 28,” 2020, Tik Tok, Dimensions variable.
Emily Foster, TYL ‘20, Visual Studies
Instagram: @suckinga_lemon
A federal regulated marginal tax shall be applied to all excess earners, with all subsequent tax revenue being allocated to educational and social programs available to all persons living in the United States.
Note: Qualifications of excess wealth determined by the Federal Government, all other taxes will continue to be controlled by state governments
The visual representation of this amendment would exist as a form of street art; a symbol for the preexisting wealth gap and the poor’s inaccessibility to money. This large, puke-green symbol acts as a kind of obnoxious representation of inequality, similarly to the obnoxious billions of dollars withheld by the wealthy that could easily end homelessness and hunger in our country.This symbol’s placement on buildings and businesses that are responsible for perpetuating and capitalizing upon this system, whether it be by tax loopholes, unfair treatment of workers, or unethical working practices, will function as a sort of Scarlet Letter.
"Splat of Wealth,” Paper Installation, h: 8’
Kayla Valenti, TYL ‘21, Visual Studies
Instagram: @KaylaValenti
AMENDMENT XXVIII
Section 1.
People who have lived in the United States of America for more than ten years and pay taxes following the law shall have the right to receive a tuition-free college education. All the public of the higher education institutions are not permitted to charge tuition, and revenue of state governments shall fund the public education expenditures.
Section 2.
Private endowments at the institutions of higher education shall be taxed by the state government at rates determined by each state.
“Graduation Cap,” 2020, Digital Illustration. 16” x 24”
Yingyu Che, TYL ‘21, Visual Studies
Section 1. The Federal Government is prohibited from deporting undocumented immigrants. All deportations of immigrants in the United States on the basis of illegal entry will henceforth cease.
Section 2. Citizenship shall be granted to recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
“Amendment XXVIII,” 2020, Gouache on paper, 12” x 4”
Lidisi Rodriguez, TYL ‘21, Visual Studies.
Lidisi is an interdisciplinary artist based in Philadelphia, Pa. Her work uses personal narratives and color to speak on things like race, culture and the human experience.
Instagram: @Lidisi.artista
Mistreatment and Malpractice
All Citizens of the United States, regardless of races, gender, ethnicity, religion or economic status will be eligible for, and receive the same level of healthcare. States are required to create assessment protocols to ensure this.
"Mistreatment and Malpractice: Amendment XXVIII," 2020.
Digital Print. Variable Size.
Cerena Robertson, TYL ‘21, Visual Studies
Amendment XXVIII
Section 1. Declares that all existing representatives of the United States Congress shall herein sit in an inflatable chair, thus granting a limit on both congressional hot air and time permitted per each person within Congress and United States politics.
Section 2. Once the member’s body has acquainted itself with the ground beneath, the member’s term is over, and is subsequently devolved with a new member and chair. All sections shall be ratified on the first day of the 2021st year.
"Hot Air” 2020, Embroidery, 4” x 6”
Madison Rudesyle, TYL ‘21, Visual Studies
Amendment XXVIII
Section 1.
All laws prohibiting the growing, processing, selling, purchasing, consuming, or state of inebriation of cannabis will be repealed on the twentieth day of the April following ratification.
Section 2.
Congress shall make no law prohibiting the growing, processing, selling, purchasing, consuming, or state of inebriation of cannabis to anyone eighteen years of age or above.
Section 3.
Those who have been charged with said crimes that prohibit the growing, processing, selling, purchasing, consuming, or state of inebriation of cannabis prior to ratification will have all said crimes expunged and be compensated by the state. Compensation will be determined and provided by the state in which said person was charged, within six months of expungement.
"The 28th Amendment”, 2020, Permanent marker on cotton t-shirt.
Isaac Horning., TYL ‘21, Visual Studies
Instagram: @isaachorningart