Constitutional Amendments and the President – one important thing to recognize about the system of checks and balances is that the President of the United States plays no role in Constiutional Amendments. Pinning Prohibition on Woodrow Wilson because he was President in 1918 would be a case in point. From my brief readings, he favored allowing States and local municipalities to set their own rules. While he personally did not drink, he did not generally support a national law. During World War One, the dry forces used the war as an excuse to not only prohibit liquor sales, but also beer and wine. After the war ended and the excuse of beer consuming food needed for the war was gone, Wilson wanted to end the beer & wine prohibition, but felt he didn’t have the power to overrule Congress…..
When Congress passes a proposed amendment, it goes right to the states for ratification – it isn’t a bill, and the President can’t veto it or otherwise stop it. Once 3/4ths of the states pass the amendement, it becomes part of the Constitution. The President has no say in that process.
