A constitutional amendment has passed.
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
April 18, 2024, 05:22:13 PM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  Atlas Fantasy Elections
  Atlas Fantasy Elections (Moderators: Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee, Lumine)
  A constitutional amendment has passed.
« previous next »
Pages: [1]
Author Topic: A constitutional amendment has passed.  (Read 598 times)
Goldwater
Republitarian
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 18,067
United States


Political Matrix
E: 1.55, S: -4.52

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« on: June 16, 2017, 02:01:23 PM »

This constitutional amendment has passed both chambers of congress and will soon be voted on by the regions.

Quote from: Restricted
You must be logged in to read this quote.
Logged
Unconditional Surrender Truman
Harry S Truman
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 14,142


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2017, 05:51:11 PM »

Grammarians of the world, unite!
Logged
Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon
Dwarven Dragon
Atlas Politician
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 31,678
United States


Political Matrix
E: -1.42, S: -0.52

P P P

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2017, 07:58:25 PM »

I encourage all to oppose this amendment, on the grounds that the original terminology did not create an unclear picture of the meaning of the clauses.
Logged
1978 New Wave skinny trousers
HenryWallaceVP
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 3,234
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2017, 12:37:53 PM »

This amendment is a failure. It seeks to fix grammatical errors in the Constitution, but in doing so it creates new errors. The amendment repeatedly fixes forms of the pronoun "he" into forms of the pronoun "they". However, this is grammatically incorrect, as a singular pronoun, not a plural pronoun, should be used here. While it is incorrect to just use the male pronoun "he", it is correct to replace "he" with "he or she".
Logged
LLR
LongLiveRock
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 5,956


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2017, 01:23:44 PM »

"They" is a singular pronoun
Logged
1978 New Wave skinny trousers
HenryWallaceVP
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 3,234
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2017, 01:59:20 PM »


Going by your example, the word children is singular. In reality, it is not singular, just like "they" is not singular. In your sentence, you referred to the word they, which is singular, as there is only one word that is spelled t-h-e-y. If you are using they as a pronoun, like the Constitution is, then it is plural. Here is an example snippet from a sentence in the Constitution: "If they approve of it they should sign it." Since this is talking about one person, the President, the sentence should read: "If he or she approves of it he or she should sign it."
Logged
Fmr. Representative Encke
Encke
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 1,203
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2017, 02:28:59 PM »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they
Logged
LLR
LongLiveRock
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 5,956


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2017, 02:32:16 PM »


Going by your example, the word children is singular. In reality, it is not singular, just like "they" is not singular. In your sentence, you referred to the word they, which is singular, as there is only one word that is spelled t-h-e-y. If you are using they as a pronoun, like the Constitution is, then it is plural. Here is an example snippet from a sentence in the Constitution: "If they approve of it they should sign it." Since this is talking about one person, the President, the sentence should read: "If he or she approves of it he or she should sign it."

"he or she" is unfair to non-gender-conforming individuals though
Logged
1978 New Wave skinny trousers
HenryWallaceVP
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 3,234
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2017, 03:02:39 PM »


The singular they is accepted more in informal contexts; however, in formal contexts, like in a Constitution, "he or she" is preferred. I have decided to support the amendment, though, because of a different user pointing out to me that "he or she" is unfair to non-gender conforming people.
Logged
1978 New Wave skinny trousers
HenryWallaceVP
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 3,234
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2017, 03:05:26 PM »


Going by your example, the word children is singular. In reality, it is not singular, just like "they" is not singular. In your sentence, you referred to the word they, which is singular, as there is only one word that is spelled t-h-e-y. If you are using they as a pronoun, like the Constitution is, then it is plural. Here is an example snippet from a sentence in the Constitution: "If they approve of it they should sign it." Since this is talking about one person, the President, the sentence should read: "If he or she approves of it he or she should sign it."

"he or she" is unfair to non-gender-conforming individuals though

I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. It's true that "he or she" is unfair to non-gender conforming individuals. I apologize for opposing the amendment, and I now support it because of your thoughtful and insightful comment.
Logged
Pages: [1]  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.038 seconds with 11 queries.