Stories

Few people have ever seriously studied failed attempts to amend the U.S. Constitution. What stories do those failures have to tell? Here are some questions our researchers have brought to the data, and the answers they found.

Prohibition Amendments

by IMAAN MIRZA AND AVA PALLOTTA

The Curious Case of Amendment XXIV

by JONATHAN SCHNEIDERMAN

An image of five religious symbols: at top left, a green Crescent and Star; at top right, a black and transparent yin and yang; center, a yellow Latin cross; bottom left, a blue Star of David; and bottom right, a pink Sanksrit aum.

The God Amendments

by JONATHAN SCHNEIDERMAN

An image with stylized "We the People" text, with "Progressives" superimposed over "People"

The Progressive Era Revolution

by MIA HAZRA

A banner with four hands of various tones arranged in a circle. Two hands have rings; one of the remaining hands presents the last unadorned hand with a ring.

The Polygamy Amendments

by IMAAN MIRZA

A small, childlike hand holds a large hammer.

The Child Labor Amendment

by SAMUEL LOWRY

An icon of the outline of the United States is opposed against a dollar sign icon on a counterbalance weighing scale, with the United States icon appearing heavier than the dollar sign.

Balanced Budget Amendments

by JILL LEPORE

A stylized map of the United States is split by a slash of color between red and blue, with a yellow elephant icon superimposed on the red half of the map and a yellow donkey icon superimposed on the blue half of the map

Amendments and Polarization

by JILL LEPORE

On the left of the image, numerous signs with the text "Pro Choice" and a blue female symbol with fist are opposed against numerous signs with "Pro Life" and a fetus in a red heart symbol on the right of the image.

Abortion Proposals

by FAWWAZ SHOUKFEH

A square image of the Earth on a yellow background; the left half is verdant and blue with white clouds, and the right half is fiery orange and yellow with plumes of smoke.

Environmental Amendments

by JILL LEPORE

A hand attempts to place a ballot with a marked checkbox on it into a yellow box marked "Vote" with an American flag. The ballot box slot has been taped over with bright red tape.

The Fifteenth Amendment

by JONATHAN SCHNEIDERMAN