Classroom Resources By Topic
Article V
Introduction
Amendment Process: With the Constitution, the Founding generation created the greatest charter of freedom in the history of the world. However, the Founding generation did not believe that it had a monopoly on constitutional wisdom. Therefore, the founders set out a formal amendment process that allowed later generations to revise our nation’s charter and “form a more perfect Union.” They wrote this process into Article V of the Constitution.
How does the Constitution’s amendment process work? Why did the Founding generation include a formal process for amending the Constitution? Why did they make it so hard to amend the Constitution?
What’s the relationship between the Constitution’s Article V amendment process and key foundational principles like popular sovereignty and the rule of law?
What key changes have the American people made to the Constitution over time and what does that tell us about the key constitutional issues in American history?
Constitution 101
Module 15: Article V and the 27 Amendments
Amending the Constitution Featuring Justice Neil M. Gorsuch
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch discusses examples from history when “we the people” have pushed for constitutional amendments.
Article V: The Amendment Process With Daniel Okrent
In this Fun Friday session, author Daniel Okrent joins Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a discussion on Article V, the amendment process, highlighting the stories behind the ratifications of the 18th and 21st Amendments.
Article V and constitutional change
Michael Rappaport of the University of San Diego and David Strauss of the University of Chicago discuss how Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump could change the Constitution.
Big Questions
Classroom Materials
Explore Article V Questions
Plans of Study
Article V
The Drafting Table
Explore key historical documents that inspired the Framers of the Constitution and each amendment during the drafting process, the early drafts and major proposals behind each provision, and discover how the drafters deliberated, agreed and disagreed, on the path to compromise and the final text.
