By ZOË HAGGARD - zhaggard@t-g.com
The last two amendments to the Tennessee State Constitution that voters will be voting yes or no on in this upcoming mid term are what some might describe as “feel good” amendments.
State Rep. Pat Marsh said these amendments are meant to codify legislation that has already been widely accepted.
Amendment 3
There’s been much discussion about Amendment 3, which would change the current language in article I, section 33 of the Tennessee Constitution. It says that slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a person who has been duly convicted of crime, are forever prohibited in this State.
“I don’t think that’s ever going to be a possibility again, but if it is—God forbid—then we’ve got, in the Constitution, that we’re not going to allow for that,” said Marsh.
The language would be changed to, “Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime.”
“That is just a protocol of our American way of doing things . . . to keep all those things on the bottom as long as possible. I see it may be changing, but slowly,” said Albert Nelson, president of the Gilliland Historical Center.
Amendment 4
Lastly, Amendment 4 would delete article IX, section 1 of the Tennessee Constitution, which prohibits ministers of the gospel and priests of any denomination from holding a seat in either House of the legislature. In a bit of irony, there are already several religious leaders who are in the House.
“Since I’ve been there, we’ve had four or five ministers that are senators or state representatives,” Marsh said.
In fact, this law was deemed unconstitutional in 1978 by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to Marsh.
David Brown, who is a pastor at a church in Rutherford County and also serves on the Bedford County School Board, said, “I don’t see that I should be excluded from running in political office any more than anybody else. Yes, I do think it should be deleted.”
Brown said he understands the argument that politics can be “corrupting.” However, politics to him can be more frustrating than corrupting.
“If you go back and look at the scriptures, you’ve got prophets — Nehemiah was a leader amongst the Jews. Ezra was a leader. Abraham was a leader. You’ve got Paul the Apostle who mentions those of Caesar’s household who were believers, but also in the household of the most powerful man in the world.”
The Times-Gazette reached out to a Bell Buckle Methodist preacher who said he had “no comment” on this amendment.
