Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the U.S. Constitution is that it outlines a process for changing it.
Throughout the nation's history, only 27 out of roughly 12,000 proposed amendments have been adopted. As this new edition of the authoritative reference demonstrates, modifying the Constitution is not a thing of the past, as Congress today considers a variety of proposals for new amendments.With over 500 alphabetically organized entries, the Encyclopedia tells the whole story of constitutional amendments: the rigorous ratification process, the significance of the 27 amendments that made it into the Constitution, and the notable and sometimes preposterous topics of the thousands that did not. The third edition offers a new preface, updated research throughout, and over 75 new entries, including discussions of amendments currently under consideration, such as proposals to ban burning the U.S. flag, legalize school prayer, and compel the federal government to balance the budget.