The Democracy Amendments

The institutional fabric of our nation is afflicted by divisive politics. Trust in Congress and the Supreme Court has reached new lows, and a tsunami of misinformation and vote suppression is causing many Americans to lose faith in the electoral process itself. These problems can no longer be solved simply by winning gridlock in both the Senate and House, together with judicial vetoes, block most legal reforms for which majorities of Americans vote. Constitutional amendments are the only way out that can restore our government’s capacity to solve problems and rebuild faith among citizens that they can actively participate in effective democratic processes. This book sets out a moderate, centrist agenda to achieve this goal, setting out the problems and solutions in clear language accessible to non-experts. Steering clear of the sharp political divides, Davenport describes 25 procedural amendments that a majority of Americans can consider to fix the deepest flaws in our constitutional design. He also argues that a new national convention called by the states offers the best chance to break the logjam and restore the politics of effective compromise.