Fifth-graders from Buckingham Elementary School present their ideas for amending the Constitution.

Rendell Center (students); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

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Rewriting the Rules

A class of fifth-graders won a contest for their ideas to change the U.S. Constitution.

September 18, 2023
By Rebecca Zissou

As You Read, Think About: What rules would you like to change, and why?

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

The U.S. Constitution

Like many kids, the students in teacher Linda Monkoski’s fifth-grade class had never thought too much about the U.S. Constitution. But last fall, Monkoski asked her students at Buckingham Elementary School what they would change about the historic document.

It was part of a contest called the Citizenship Challenge.* Fourth- and fifth-graders near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were invited to come up with ideas for an amendment to the Constitution. The winning class would receive $1,000. 

“I was really excited to get to work on such a big project and for our voices to be heard,” says 11-year-old Cami Martin.

The students spent weeks brainstorming. They researched existing amendments and debated different proposals. For Cami and her classmates, all that hard work would eventually pay off. 


* The Citizenship Challenge is run by the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement and the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

Making Changes

America’s Founders wrote the Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787. It laid out a plan for how the federal (or national) government would be run. The Founders also outlined a process for making changes to the Constitution. The first 10 amendments, called the Bill of Rights, were added in 1791. Over time, a total of 27 amendments have been made, the most recent in 1992.

The students’ challenge was to come up with ideas for a 28th amendment. They focused on making elections fairer. For one thing, they believe that members of Congress should be limited to two terms, like the president is. Congress is the lawmaking branch of the U.S. government (see “The Three Branches,” below). 

Unlike the president, members of Congress can be reelected over and over. Some have held their positions for more than 40 years. The students from Buckingham Elementary think the rules should change so more people can serve. 

“We need fresh ideas,” says 11-year-old Colin Williamson.

A Team Effort

The kids worked together to write an essay outlining their proposal. The class was among 10 finalists chosen to present their ideas to three judges at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. 

“It was pretty scary up there,” Colin recalls.

In January, the students found out that they had won first place!

“We were all really surprised and excited,” says Cami. 

Learning About Laws

The class used its prize money to take a trip to Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. They met with a state senator and learned how laws are passed in their state. 

The class’s win doesn’t mean their amendment will actually be added to the Constitution. But Izzy Murray, 11, says the project taught her a lot about how our government works. 

“I’ve been really into politics and the Constitution,” she explains. “It definitely made me more passionate.”

The Three Branches

The Constitution set up three branches, or parts, of the U.S. government. Each branch can check, or limit, the power of the other two.

 

Legislative Branch: Makes Laws

Who: Congress—100 members of the Senate and 435 members of the House of Representatives 

Main jobs: Writes, debates, and passes bills (proposals for new laws)

Length of service: Senators are elected to six-year terms and representatives to two-year terms. There are no term limits for either.

Executive Branch: Enforces Laws

Who: U.S. president, vice president, and a team of advisers called the Cabinet 

Main jobs: Enforces federal laws. The president approves or vetoes (rejects) bills passed by Congress.

Length of service: The president is elected to a four-year term and cannot serve more than two terms.

Judicial Branch: Reviews Laws

Who: U.S. Supreme Court (nine justices, or judges) and more than 100 federal courts

Main jobs: Decides whether laws meet the standards of the Constitution and can overturn laws that do not

Length of service: Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president and confirmed, or approved, by the Senate. They can serve for life.

1. Why did the fifth-graders at Buckingham Elementary School believe that members of Congress should be limited to two terms?

2. Will the students’ proposal change the wording of the U.S. Constitution? Explain.

3. What are two important facts you learned about the U.S. Constitution from this article?

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