Amending America
About the Exhibit
11,000 Attempts, 27 Amendments
Only 27 times—out of more than 11,000 proposals—have Americans reached consensus to amend the Constitution. It is difficult—but not impossible—to turn an idea into an amendment. So few amendments have been successful because our Constitution sets a high bar to pass amendments. So, what kinds of proposals achieve enough support to become a ratified amendment?
We have amended our Constitution to reshape fundamental rights, key legal powers, or elemental government structure. We have expanded voting through amendments to broaden participation. We have guaranteed our rights to experience more freedom. We have improved the structure of our government to be more secure.
We amend not only to solve current problems. We amend when Americans share an understanding of an essential concern that affects us all. We amend so that We the People can create a more perfect Union. When we add new ideas to our fundamental governing charter—our Constitution—we are Amending America.
Online Exhibit
Ebooks
Amending America
Discover the remarkably American story of how we amended, or attempted to amend, our Constitution in order to form a more perfect union.
Download PDF For use with any device that reads Adobe Acrobat PDF files.
iTunes For your iPhone, iPad, or other devices with iBooks.
Putting the Bill of Rights to the Test
his workbook includes primary sources to help students explore some of the core concepts, or protections, found in the Bill of Rights, and how they've been tested throughout American History.
Download PDF For use with any device that reads Adobe Acrobat PDF files.
iTunes For your iPhone, iPad, or other devices with iBooks.
Pop-Up Display
Bill of Rights and You
You can download high resolution poster versions of the pop-up display for use in your facility.
Our Bill of Rights is 225 Years Old
Creating the Bill of Rights
Know Your Rights
Make A Change