Constitution
The Committee on the Judiciary plays an important role in protecting people's constitutional rights and-when the Constitution falls short of its promise "to form a more perfect Union"-in amending the Constitution. In the 116th Congress, the Committee passed a resolution to revoke the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and held hearings on state efforts to curb people's constitutional right to an abortion, the lasting negative impact of Citizens United on our campaign finance system, the constitutional role of the pardon power, and opportunities to reform presidential clemency. The Committee also filed several lawsuits to uphold its constitutional authority to conduct oversight of the executive branch. In the 117th Congress, the Committee will continue to build on these accomplishments and further the Constitution's promise of a more perfect Union.
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Rep. John Conyers issued the following statement:
"Yesterday's revelations concerning widespread surveillance of Internet communications, combined with the disclosures concerning surveillance of Americans' phone records raise serious alarm bells.
Today, the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice held a Markup of H.R. 1797, the "District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." Following consideration of the bill, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:
"I am deeply disappointed that today my colleagues in the majority opted to use our limited working time to consider legislation that is a blatant attack on women's most fundamental constitutional rights.
Today marks the 59th anniversary of the seminal civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). In this case, the Supreme Court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson,163 U.S. 537 (1896) which held that separate but equal treatment of blacks and whites was constitutional. Oliver Brown, along with a collection with thirteen African American parents filed suit against the Board of Education of the City of Topeka, Kansas after their children were denied admittance to the closest all White elementary school in their district. Mr.
(DETROIT) – This evening, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) gave the keynote address at an event in Detroit honoring the work of Gideon's Promise, an organization working to recruit and train public defenders. The event comes on the heels of the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's historic ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright, in which the Court held that state courts are required to provide an attorney for defendants in criminal cases who are unable to afford legal counsel. Following his participation in the event, Rep. Conyers issued this statement:
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Arizona v. ITCA. The Court was presented with the issue of whether, under the "National Voter Registration Act of 1993" (NVRA), states can demand additional requirements to the federal uniform voter registration form. Since Arizona's Proposition 200 ballot initiative was approved in November 2004, the state has rejected tens-of-thousands of registrants for lacking documentation specified by the state to prove citizenship, on the grounds that affirmation of U.S. citizenship required by the NVRA is insufficient.
Fifty years ago, the United States Supreme Court decided, in a landmark unanimous ruling, that under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment state courts are required to provide an attorney for defendants in criminal cases who are unable to afford legal counsel. This requirement already existed under the 6th Amendment at the federal level, but was groundbreaking for extending the right to counsel to individuals at the state level.
This afternoon, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) participated in a bipartisan Gun Trafficking Forum put on by Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Congressman Scott Rigell (R-Va.), and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.). Following the forum, Rep. Conyers issued the following statement:
"Today, I stand with my colleagues at a bipartisan forum on gun trafficking in support of the 'Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013.'
Today, former Chairmen of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) and Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) responded to oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Shelby County v. Holder. The bipartisan group of members filed a brief as amici curiae on February 1, 2013 to affirm what the Supreme Court has declared for over 50 years: Congress can enforce Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act under Congress's 15th Amendment Powers. Specifically, Section 5 halts discrimination at the outset of any voting change made in a state.
Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), along with other members of the House Democratic Caucus, participated in a Democratic Issues Conference in Leesburg, Virginia which included addresses by President Obama and Vice President Biden.
Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) participated in two events highlighting the need for Congress to take action against gun violence. In the morning, Congressman Conyers attended an event at the White House, hosted by President Barak Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, at which the President set forth a package of recommendations on gun violence reduction.