Skip to main content

Why is the US Constitution so hard to amend? - Peter Paccone

1,046,151 Views

22,974 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

When it was ratified in 1789, the US Constitution didn’t just institute a government by the people – it provided a way for the people to alter the Constitution itself. And yet, of the nearly 11,000 amendments proposed in the centuries since, only 27 have succeeded as of 2016. Peter Paccone explains why the US Constitution is so hard to change.

Regardless of the method used, passing a constitutional amendment requires the _____ government to propose the amendment and the _______ government to ratify the amendment.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Peter Paccone
  • Collaborator Loren Kleinrock
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Director Jeremy Jusay
  • Animator Katie Wendt
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

More from Government: Declassified