Since the Reconstruction period, there have been over forty proposals to rewrite the U.S. Constitution. John Vile's unique historical study analyzes all of these proposals within the framework of the constitutional amending process. In each case Vile examines the substance of the proposal, its goals and methods, the response to the proposal, and its overall influence--concluding that the Constitution in its current form faces no immediate threats. He finds no convincing cases for a new Constitution and believes that most perceived defects can be remedied with less drastic measures.The study illuminates issues of constitutional change, stressing the importance of understanding alternative forms of government and the basis for their support. While immediate change is not likely, constitutional change will ultimately come, and when it does, earlier criticisms and suggestions may help to set the agenda. Proposals for change are critiques which help to identify strengths and weaknesses in the current system. In addition, examinations of past proposals reveal how people view the Constitution during crises. This work will be particularly useful for political scientists, historians, lawyers, and individuals interested in, or involved with, efforts for constitutional change.

PrefaceEffecting Constitutional Change in the United StatesFrom Reconstruction to the Turn of the CenturyProposals Occasioned by Progressivism and WarProposals from the Great Depression and the Sesquicentennial of the ConstitutionProposals from World War IIProposals from the Turbulent 1960s and early 1970sReassessing the Constitution and the Presidency after WatergateProposals from the Bicentennials and Their CritiquesMore Proposals from the Bicentennial to the PresentAnalysis and ConclusionsAppendixBibliographyIndex