The 2011 changes to Federal Student Aid made by President Obama are unconstitutional. The current law affects eligibility of many students who are income eligible for financial aid and are struggling to complete college, many of them with children and families to support. The current laws which took effect last year violate articles 9 and 10 of the U.S. Constitution. These articles are also know as the "ex post facto" clause of the U.S. Constitution which states: Congress shall pass no law having retroactive effect. This means that any law takes effect from the time it is signed into effect and does not take into consideration any actions prior to the passing of that particular law. This is where the problem arises.
When the law was passed, students were given a "lifetime limit" of 12 semesters for Pell funding. This is not unreasonable. However, the law took into consideration all Pell grants received prior to the date the law took effect. Ex post facto dictates that all actions prior to the passing of a new law are not to be considered. Only actions after the law was signed into effect are to be considered as to the application of that law. To penalize low income students for grants received prior to the change in the law is to assign that law a retroactive effect. The current Pell laws are unconstitutional. Please sign the petition to have the law amended so that it is in keeping with our country's most important legal document, and help struggling students at the same time.