After much thought, and in light of some recent laws being passed in California (SB 277 & SB 792); I would like to propose the following Constitutional Amendment: The government shall make no law mandating the vaccination of any citizen, or that requires any citizen to receive preventative health procedures, or medications of any kind; for the cause of compliance with the law. All 50 states require certain vaccines for school children. However, to date no federal law exists that mandates vaccinations. I believe that American citizens have the right to choose what and when they are subjected to medical procedures. Personal medical decisions should not be made by the government. The liberty an individual has over their physical person is
The power of the school district is intended to protect the students in the school. However, this does not mean mere physical protection. The school district has a responsibility to protect the rights of students also. They should avoid requiring parents that object to having their children vaccinated to have them vaccinated. Nevertheless, though I disagree, the current precedent is that the schools do have the authority to require students to receive vaccination (Essex, 2012).
Historically, people have been required to receive vaccinations on a mandatory basis specifically for attending school. The Constitution states that people have the right to refuse medical treatment. However, under the 10th Amendment, each state has a right to mandate protocols such as immunization for public safety (Rosenbaum, 2010).
To amend the constitution, various steps and procedures must be taken. When either Congress (which takes a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives), or a constitutional convention (which takes two-thirds of the State legislatures) want to propose an amendment, they give it to the National Archives and Records Administration. The Congress proposes the amendment as a joint resolution to the National Archives and Records Administrations Office of the Federal Register for the publication process. The Office of the Federal Register adds legislative notes to the joint resolution and publishes it in slip law format. The Office of the Federal Register also puts together an information package for the States
In the first draft of the Constitution, suprisingly few basic rights were included. Thomas Jefferson wrote James Madison, another politician that he was concerned about “the lack of a bill of rights providing clearly for freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and protection against threatening armies." Aware of the need of these basic rights, George Washington pushed Congress to propose amendments that offered rights of citizens and the welfare of the public. Motivated by these important Americans, Congress finally proposed Amendments to the Constitution providing for necessary basic human rights. These Amendments were officially proposed on September 25 in 1789. Of the original twelve proposed Amendments, numbers 3-12 were ratified. Later,
I believe that all children in the United States should be vaccinated against disease. There is a large argument in today society involving childhood vaccinations. The argument is whether children should be forced to have mandatory vaccines, or if parents should be allowed to refuse these vaccines. One of the main reasons that parents are skeptical of vaccines, is because there have been more recorded cases of children experiencing serious side effects after receiving the vaccines. Now with more and more cases of vaccinated diseases popping up all over the country, the issue is becoming serious. According to the CDC, more than 20 percent of children in America are not vaccinated against disease. This poses a serious issue for the
In the United States, the law states that vaccinations are required for children entering school unless they have a valid reason that prevents them from receiving the vaccinations. Starting when children are born, they begin the regimen of vaccinations that continue throughout their adolescent years and adulthood. Each year children receive a variation of shots to protect them from the illnesses they will encounter in the world, especially once they attend school. The most common reasons parents forego getting their children vaccinated are religious beliefs, medical exemptions, and personal beliefs. Due to the rising number of parents declining to get their children vaccinated, the number of outbreaks of preventable diseases has increased. The question is now should parents/guardians be forced to vaccinate their children?
The constitutional amendment prohibiting alcohol failed for many reasons, but mostly because it was a change at the national level that did not have national support. One of the defining differences of the United States is that are overall area contributes to vastly different regional societies with unique morals and principles. The idea of a constitutional ban on all alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, or even caffeine could be welcomed by the majority in certain areas of the country but seen as an abject misuse of power by the government in other more liberal areas. For example, many states have already taken the steps to legalize marijuana sale and possession as a result of overwhelming support from a majority of their constituents. A constitutional amendment to ban marijuana would see the rise of much political unrest in these states and the return of drug cartel based distribution and organized criminal activity.
In America, people have the right to practice any religion. Sometimes there are religious beliefs that interfere with what the government wants people to do. If parents do not want their children to have shots because it is against their religion or philosophical reason, there are many states in the U.S. that excuse them from having to get their children vaccinated. “All 50 states issue medical exemptions, 48 states
The question is, should the government mandate vaccines? Those in favor of child vaccinations, believe that they are the greatest health developments of the 20th century. While those against them believe that a child’s immune system permits either a natural or acquired resistance to diseases than putting questionable toxic ingredients into a child’s body. In the US, 50 states require vaccinations for children entering public schools, though no mandatory federal vaccination laws exist. 50 states issue medical exemptions only (1), 48 states (excluding Mississippi and West Virginia) permit religious exemptions, and 31 states exclude Philosophical exemptions. (2)
One of the things that not all parents agree on is whether or not there should be a law making vaccinations mandatory. The public school system requires all students to be immunized. There have been so many published reports, articles, television programs, public service announcements, and other public attention being paid to all sides of this issue.
Likewise, some people should not receive vaccinations. These individuals should not receive vaccinations due to their age, health conditions, among other factors. These other conditions are independent depending on the type of vaccination received. “They can range from an individual who cannot swallow, to a pregnant woman, to a person with a life-threatening allergy, to a component in the vaccination” (Hales 543). A small percentage of individuals do not respond to a particular vaccine. ”All states provide medical exemptions, and some state laws also offer exemptions for religious and philosophical reasons” (State Vaccination Requirements). “Some religions even prevent certain parents from vaccinating their children because of their belief that the disease is a naturally occurring thing and humans have no right interfering with it” (Hales 544). However, most state laws establish vaccination requirements for school children. These laws apply to public schools, private schools, and day care centers. “State laws also establish mechanisms for enforcement of school vaccination requirements” (State Vaccination Requirement). “Vaccines save
Mandatory vaccinations have been hotly debated in the United States for over two centuries, making the argument almost as old as the country itself. As early as 1809, Massachusetts became the first state to mandate the world’s premiere vaccine. Authorities recognized the life-saving benefits of the smallpox vaccine. They chose to require inoculation to protect the community from further outbreaks. Public outrage ensued as some community members feared the new vaccine and believed they should be able to choose if they wished to receive it. The most vocal protestors formed anti-compulsory vaccination groups and were successful in getting laws overturned in many states. However, even the United States Supreme Court has upheld states’ rights to require immunization. (A) Vaccinations should be
Americans are being treated as if they don’t know anything about health. The Federal government is forcing American families to take vaccines against their will. Parents that do not take action and don’t provide their children with the “proper” vaccines can be fined or go to jail. This issue has been an ongoing problem, however, now in many states the government is not even allowing any type of exemption. I disagree with the government and I think that parents should have the free choice as to what vaccines they think is right for their children, being that vaccines don’t always work and they can also cause severe health problems. I think the reason why the government wants everyone vaccinated is for economic reasons.
In recent years, the vaccine and anti-vaccine issue has hit major headlines. As of July 2016, California law states “Public elementary schools and secondary schools cannot admit children unless they are immunized against 10 diseases: diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b (bacterial meningitis), measles, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, rubella, tetanus, hepatitis B and chicken pox.” Children with medical conditions such as immune-system deficiencies and allergies, confirmed by a physician, can be excused from immunization. (Perkins) California does not stand alone, all 50 states have some variation of this law. Despite the law, should these vaccines be a requirement to enroll in public school? Vaccines build your body's immune system so that, in the future, it's able to fight against a specific disease. Having children vaccinated early on in their academic careers is beneficial to all of society.
“Courts’ in the United States, including the Supreme Court, have consistently upheld states’ rights to compel mandatory vaccination for school children to ensure the public health and prevent diseases like measles from plaguing the population”. (Boston College Laws Review. 2016. Vol. 57 Issue1, p261-296. 36p.) No US federal