The "English-only" Debate: The English Language Amendment and American Politics

Abstract

The political implications of the English Language Amendment appear to be the predominant issue fueling the "English-Only Debate" in America today. Political affiliations and relationships between the English Language Amendment at the federal level and the English Language Amendment at the state level raise some interesting questions: Who supports legislation at the federal level and what is their political affiliation? Is there a relationship between those who support legislation at the federal level and the states which have passed English Language legislation? Does region or population play a role in determining support for an English Language Amendment, either at the state or federal level? The answers to these questions may provide us with some insight into the political aspect of the English Language Amendment. Because the political implications appear to be driving the "English-Only Debate," the focus of this paper will be to analyze these relationships in an attempt to determine what this debate says about American culture. I have divided this issue into three parts; background, federal, and state issues.