Constitutional Amendment for Democratic Change
Fall 2026
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, MA
Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two paths for proposing amendments: through Congress, or through a convention called by the states. The latter has never been used—and remains one of the most debated mechanisms in American constitutional law.
This conference brings together voices from across the political spectrum—scholars, nonprofit leaders, and advocates both for and against a convention—to explore fundamental questions: Can the Article V convention process be used responsibly, safely, and legitimately? What guardrails would be necessary? And what role might it play in building a more people-centric democracy?
Our goal is not consensus, but clarity. We seek to advance understanding through rigorous, good-faith dialogue among those who hold deeply different views about the promise and peril of this constitutional mechanism.
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New to Article V? We've compiled key scholarship on the constitutional amendment process—how it works, its history, and the ongoing debates about convention proposals—into an interactive research tool.
Use it to explore questions like: How have we amended the Constitution in the past? What would an Article V convention look like? What are the arguments for and against this path to reform?
Open the Article V Research Collection ↗