Neither Bone Nor Stone: Why the US Constitution Was Meant to be Amended
“The people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or change their government, whenever it be found adverse or inadequate to the purposes of its institution.” –James Madison, failed First Amendment to the US Constitution introduced into Congress,
The United States Constitution, a remarkable document that has shaped modern constitutionalism, was designed to be amended. Its framers understood that time and society evolve, necessitating a mechanism for change without resorting to violence. The Constitution's parchment and ink, while physical manifestations, pale in comparison to the enduring power of ideas.
As Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia once stated, "The whole purpose of the Constitution is to prevent a future society from doing whatsoever it wants to do." However, this assertion overlooks the constitution's primary purpose—to allow for change, ensuring a stable and adaptable framework for governance. This book delves into the origins of amendment, the conditions that foster it, the reasons for its decline, and the critical question of whether the Constitution can endure without a robust amendment process.
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