The 18th and 21st Amendments are Fantastic! They give us a clear guide to the powers and lack of powers of government. Of course, the enumerated powers  found in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution is another good place to look. But this is more of a  kinesthetic  approach.  The 18th Amendment was passed to create alcohol prohibition, a power not clearly granted to the government prior. The 21st repealed the 18th. Think about modern-day federal powers; where did they get all that power? President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a second Bill of Rights in 1944. While I disagree with what he proposed, it is invaluable to recognize that by making such a proposal, it was the clear government did not currently possess the power to implement said proposals. Things like: * "The right to earn enough to provide adequate food, clothing, and recreation;." * "The right of every family to a decent home;." * "The right to adequate medical care and the ...

Chairman Henry Hyde states that the Constitution is “Inappropriate and anachronistic.” "There are things in the Constitution that have been overtaken by events (Did I miss an amendment?)  by time. Declaration of war is one of them. There are things no longer relevant to modern society (Like the Constitution?) . Why declare war if you don't have to? (Good point) We are saying to the President, use your judgment. So, to demand that we declare war is to strengthen something to death. You have got a hammerlock on this situation, and it is not called for. Inappropriate, anachronistic, it isn't done anymore." --Chairman Henry Hyde, 10/3/2002, in a session of House of Representatives, during hearing on H.J. Res. 114, "AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ ," discussing Ron Paul's motion to declare war.