I asked Claude (Opus 5.5) to draft the 5 most important constitutional amendment proposals from a Progressive (Rho Kanna, Bernie Sanders) POV. The AI on its own decided to make some explanatory comments.
I really do believe that in the relatively near future a window to actually get some important amendments through may open. And we need to be ready. Notice that Claude was smart enough to include the ERA, which never quite made it through the first time.
Anyway, although not written by a human being, these seem like pretty good first drafts of what are, in fact, at least among the top six or seven things that just need to be addressed by amending our Constitution.
1. Democracy for People Amendment (overturning Citizens United)
Section 1. The rights protected by this Constitution are the rights of natural persons. Corporations, limited liability companies, and other artificial entities have only such privileges as are granted by law, and may be regulated by Congress and the States.
Section 2. Congress and the States may set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money to influence elections, including spending that is independent of any candidate, and may require public disclosure of its sources.
Section 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.
Why progressives want it: Sanders has introduced versions of this repeatedly since 2011. His first, the “Saving American Democracy Amendment,” would make clear that corporations are not entitled to the same constitutional rights as people and that corporations may be regulated by Congress and state legislatures. Support has grown since then: 11 states, the District of Columbia and more than 400 cities and towns have called on Congress to put forward a constitutional amendment that reverses Citizens United. vermontbizcitizen
2. Right to Vote Amendment
Section 1. Every citizen of the United States who is eighteen years of age or older has the fundamental right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides.
Section 2. No government shall deny, abridge, or unreasonably burden that right, except by a law that is narrowly tailored to a compelling interest and that applies equally to all citizens.
Section 3. Congress shall have power to enforce and protect this right by appropriate legislation, including national standards for registration and voting in federal elections.
Why: Khanna co-introduced exactly this kind of amendment this June. The sponsors’ argument is that since the word “vote” appears in the Constitution only with respect to non-discrimination, the right to vote falls to the states. Only a constitutional amendment would establish a clear, nationwide, guarantee of the right to vote for all Americans. house
3. Supreme Court Term Limits Amendment
Section 1. Justices of the Supreme Court shall serve a single term of eighteen years. One Justice shall be appointed in the first and third year of each presidential term.
Section 2. A Justice whose term has expired may continue to serve on an inferior federal court, as Congress may provide.
Section 3. The Senate shall act on a nomination within 120 days of its submission, or the nominee shall be deemed confirmed.
Why: Khanna has led the push for 18-year terms. In his words, “Right now, the previous generation is making the laws for our generation,” he said. “It’s anti-democratic. We need term limits.” He has mostly pursued this by statute, but many legal experts believe the change would require a constitutional amendment. Section 3 is my addition, aimed at confirmation blockades like the one in 2016. househouse
4. Equal Rights Amendment
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Why: The original 1972 ERA covered sex only, and progressives now generally want explicit protection for LGBTQ people as well. Khanna cosponsored legislation establishing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. A newly proposed version like this one would avoid the legal fight over whether the original ratification deadline expired. legiplex
5. National Popular Vote Amendment (abolishing the Electoral College)
Section 1. The President and Vice President shall be elected jointly by the direct popular vote of the people of the several States and the District of Columbia. The pair receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected.
Section 2. Congress may provide by law for ranked-choice voting, uniform ballot access, and the resolution of disputed elections.
Section 3. The second through fourth paragraphs of Article II, Section 1, and the Twelfth and Twenty-third Articles of amendment are repealed.
Why: This is a long-standing goal of the left. Brennan Center scholars put abolishing the Electoral College, overturning Citizens United, and limiting Supreme Court justices’ terms on the short list of possible amendments for this era. Advocates’ central argument is “one person, one vote”: the candidate with the most votes should win. brennancenter
