Historian Jill Lepore on constitutional amendments | 60 Minutes
In a Nutshell
Historian Jill Lepore highlights the U.S. philosophy of amendment, noting that while state constitutions are frequently updated via referendums, the federal Constitution hasn't seen meaningful change since 1971's lowering of the voting age to 18. In 1776, states pioneered written constitutions empowering people to govern and revise rules, yet today the Supreme Court effectively amends it instead—prompting questions amid the 250th anniversary of American independence. Lepore urges reflection on whether Americans want judicial amendments over popular ones.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
The last minute of 60 Minutes is sponsored by United Healthcare, coverage you can count on for your whole life ahead. This summer will see many celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, but historian Jill Lepore is reflecting on another breakthrough in 1776.
Our very system of law is founded on what I think of as the philosophy of amendment. The idea that we can always make things better. We amend state constitutions all the time, mostly by referendums on election day. But I worry that at this point we've all but forgotten that the federal constitution can be amended, too. That hasn't even really happened in any meaningful way since 1971, when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.
It was in 1776, even before the United States declared independence, that written constitutions were invented in the states where the people said, "We govern ourselves." And they did that by writing down the rules and making sure that we, their descendants, could change those rules.
Counterargument on Constitution's Perfection and Supreme Court Amendments
Some people might say, "Oh, the US Constitution doesn't need to be amended because it's perfect." But you'd have to concede that the US Constitution is being amended all the time, not by the people, but by the Supreme Court.
Sign in to read the full notes
Get access to AI-generated notes, topic timestamps, and more.