National Archives Foundation
Project Title
For a public education campaign on the history of constitutional amendments and their relevance today
Date
Sep. 08, 2016
Duration
12 months
Description
Of 11,000 proposed amendments to the Constitution, the twenty-seven that passed secure individual liberties and define the powers and structure of government. These issues addressed in the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments have been the subject of continuous discussion for 225 years, through topics as old as economic inequality and as new as cyber security. No American’s life is untouched by the ongoing debates about the rights of individuals and the role of government. However, many individuals today do not make the connection between centuries-old amendments and the issues debated by policymakers and the public today. With Corporation support, the National Archives Foundation will launch Amending America, a series of exhibitions, programs, online resources, and more, to explore how the United States continues to perfect the union through the lens of its historic records.