Live at the National Constitution Center

Constitution Drafting Project: A Discussion of Five New Amendments

Feb 6, 2024

Caroline Fredrickson, Timothy Sandefur, and Ilan Wurman discuss their approaches to constitution drafting in the Constitution Drafting Project. They cover topics such as amending the Constitution, determining presidential eligibility, reinvigorating Congress, term limits for Supreme Court justices, and the influence of the Declaration of Independence on proposed amendments.

56:34

Episode guests

Timothy Sandefur

Ilan Wurman

Caroline Fredrickson

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The National Constitution Center's Constitution drafting project showcased the potential for civil discourse and the possibility of constitutional agreement in a polarized age.

Amending the Constitution is essential to maintain its relevance for future generations and address the changing needs of society.

The drafting teams, representing progressive, conservative, and libertarian ideologies, reached agreement on proposed amendments that aimed to improve the balance of power, reinforce principles of democracy, and protect individual rights.

Deep dives

The Landmark Constitution Drafting Project

The National Constitution Center's Constitution drafting project brought together three teams of constitutional scholars to draft constitutions from scratch. Surprisingly, there was significant overlap in the constitutions produced, and the teams agreed on five amendments to the Constitution. This project showcased the potential for civil discourse and the possibility of constitutional agreement in a polarized age.

Introduction

2min

Constitution Drafting Project: Amendments and Compromise

15min

Determining the Number of Years for Presidential Eligibility

2min

Amending the Constitution: Easier Proposal, Reasonable Ratification

19min

Reinvigorating Congress and the Role of the Administrative State

3min

Proposal for Term Limits and Addressing Filibuster in the Supreme Court

4min

Discussion on the Influence of the Declaration of Independence on Proposed Amendments

3min

The Balancing Act of Writing a Constitution

8min

The Center for Constitutional Design at Arizona State University and the National Constitution Center present a discussion on the NCC’s landmark Constitution Drafting Project, featuring members of the drafting teams: Caroline Fredrickson of team progressive, Timothy Sandefur of team libertarian, and Ilan Wurman of team conservative. They will discuss their approaches to constitution drafting, the various amendments they agreed on, and the project’s importance in today’s constitutional environment. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is presented in partnership with the Center for Constitutional Design at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

Additional Resources

National Constitution Center, Constitution Drafting Project

National Constitution Center, Constitution Drafting Project, "The Proposed Amendments" (PDF)

Ilan Wurman, A Debt Against the Living: An Introduction to Originalism

Center for Constitutional Design at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, 2024 Model Constitutional Convention

Justice Stephen Breyer on the Importance of Civics Education

Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America

We the People: A Progressive Reading of the Constitution for the Twenty-First Century

The Preamble to the Constitution

The Declaration of Independence

National Constitution Center, Supreme Court Case Library, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)