In 2011, a Required Readingof the Constitution

Since the November elections, the Tea Party has virtually disappeared, at least from the media scene.

But the Republican majority, which will take its place in the House of Representatives on Jan. 5, intends to offer them a moment of symbolic fervor: a reading of the Constitution.

Following the installation of John Boehner as Nancy Pelosi’s successor, the newly elected representatives will rush to read in turn the 4,543 words of text, including the 27 amendments (It is unclear whether they will be in period costume … or whether the Democrats will participate).

The reading of the Constitution has been a demand of the Republican right for many years. In 2004, George Bush established a “Constitution Day,” Sept. 17, the anniversary of the signing of the document in 1787. Since then, schools and public institutions have held annual educational ceremonies, and Sept. 17 is quickly becoming a tradition.

Well before the Tea Party, the “Constitution Caucus” also served as the House’s “Constitution Hour” to discuss the text. Every year, Mike Conaway of Texas introduced the same resolution, titled “America Act”: — “A Modest Effort to Read and Instill the Constitution Again.” The text obligates each member or congressional employee to certify each year that he has read the Constitution within the past 12 months.

Republican leaders also plan to give in to another demand of the Tea Party (which can’t hurt): to include in each piece of legislation the constitutional authority that allows Congress to vote on it. The lawmakers must state which article allows them to decide to revoke the health reforms or to increase the debt ceiling…