This issue has been all about constitutional law and the way the Supreme Court decides what it means. But the Constitution can also be amended: there is a process to change or add to the Constitution. (You can read about it here.) We’ve done it twenty-seven times in our history, including:
- Amendments I–X (the Bill of Rights), which established freedom of speech, the right to a trial by jury, the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, and more.
- Amendment XIII, which abolished slavery
- Amendment XVI, which lowered the voting age to eighteen
Now it’s your turn to act like a constitutional lawyer. What other amendments do you think we should add to the Constitution?
Take a look at the Constitution Center’s Interactive Constitution. See what amendments have already been passed and read explanations for why. Then write a short essay telling us how you think we should change the Constitution today—or tell us why you don’t think we need to change anything. Then use our submission form to send us your essay; we might publish yours in next month’s Navigator!