AMBULATORIA VOLUNTAS. A phrase used to designate that a man has the power to alter his will or testament1 as long as he lives. This form of phrase frequently occurs in writers on the civil law; as ambulatoria res, ambulatoria actio, potestas, conditio, c.;Calvini Lexic.
AMENABLE2. Responsible; subject to answer in a court of justice liable to punishment.
AMENDE HONORABLE, EngIish law. A penalty imposed upon a person by way of disgrace or infamy3, as a punishment for any offence, or for the purpose of making reparation for any injury done to another, as the walking into church in a white sheet, with a rope about hte neck, and a ortch in the hand, and begging the pardon of God, or the king, or any private inpidual, for some delinquency.
2. A punishment somewhat similar to this, and which bore the same name, was common in France; it was abolished by the law of the 25th of September, 1791. Merlin Rep. de Jur. h.'t.
3. For the form of a sentence of amende horrorable, see D'Agaesseau, Oeuvres, 43 Plaidoyer, tom. 4, p. 246.
AMENDMENT4, legislation. An alteration5 or change of something proposed in a bill.
2. Either house of the legislature has a rigt to make amendments6; but, when so made, they must be sanctioned by the other house before they can become a law. The senate has no power to originate any money bills, but may propose and make amendments to such as have passed the House of representatives. Vide Congress; Senate.
3. The constitution of the United States, art. 5, and the constitutions of some of the states, provide for their amendment. The provisions contained in tho constitution of the United States, are as follows: Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid7, to all intents and purposes, as part of this constitution, when ratified8 by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification9 may be proposed by Congress: Provided, that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, shall, in any manner, affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage10 in the Senate.
