Final answer:
To address the exception clause in the 13th Amendment, a new constitutional amendment would need to be proposed and ratified, thus removing the provision that allows involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is a clause within the 13th Amendment that permits involuntary servitude "except as a punishment for crime," which has led to issues surrounding mass incarceration. To address the continuation of forced labor under this exception, one might advocate for an amendment to eliminate the clause, thus ensuring that involuntary servitude is not legal under any circumstances. Such a change would require a new constitutional amendment passed by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate and then ratified by three-fourths of the states.
While the 13th Amendment was pivotal in abolishing slavery, the exception for punishment of crimes has been critiqued, notably in Ana DuVernay's documentary 13th, for perpetuating a system that disproportionally impacts African Americans. Addressing this exception would necessitate a robust national discussion, as amending the Constitution is a significant undertaking that reflects shifts in political culture and values over time.