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10 Widener J. Pub. L. 1 (2000-2001)
Towards a More Perfect Union: Some Thoughts on Amending the Constitution

handle is hein.journals/wjpl10 and id is 11 raw text is: WIDENER JOURNAL OF PUBLIC LAW Copyright © 2000 by the Widener University School of Law Volume 10 2000 Number 1 TOWARDS A MORE PERFECT UNION: SOME THOUGHTS ON AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION by Thomas E. Baker* I. INTRODUCTION Our constitutional tradition insists that a measure must run the Article V gauntlet to be deemed worthy enough to be added to the Constitution. Our experience vith amending the Constitution demonstrates that such measures are few and far between. We must be mindful of these lessons whenever we contemplate a proposal to amend the Constitution. This essay provides an overview of the procedures for amending the Constitution, describes the long-run experience with those procedures, and reminds us of the wisdom of the Framers, as We the People contemplate the plethora of pending proposals to amend the Constitution of the United States. II. AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION A. Amendnent Procedures The procedures for amending the Constitution represent the Framers' best efforts to reconcile the need for change with the desire for stability in government structures. In the words of James Madison, *Thomas E. Baker holds the James Madison Chair in Constitutional Law and serves as Director of the Constitutional Law Center at Drake University Law School; thomas.bakerodrake.edu. This article is a longer version of an essay vwitten for A.B.A. Insights on Law and Society, Fall 2000, at 4 (http://w.T.insightsmagazine.org).

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