Constitution read today in the House

John Boehner began, "We the people," for the historic reading of the U.S. Constitution on the House floor today.  It is the first time the Constitution was read on a congressional floor.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., managed the reading from the well, alternately recognizing members of both parties.  It was read as amended.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., said he was concerned about the three-fifths clause, which stated a slave would count as three-fifths of a person, because "many of us don't want that to be lost."

"Given the struggle of African-Americans and women to create a more perfect document," Jackson said, the redacted language of the Constitution is "no less serious" than other portions of the Constitution.

Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., asked Goodlatte to explain how it was determined to read the amended version instead of the original document. Goodlatte replied, "We are not reading those sections superseded by amendment."


Inslee said he wanted to be assured that the reading was not a "statement of intent, but to have a moment of comity."

Under House rules adopted Wednesday, bills will be required to include the constitutional authority under which it could be enacted.