The Amendment Lab

Jordan Lontine/Joshua Castro

The Amendment Lab is where we examine the biggest challenges facing the United States—and ask a simple question: Can the Constitution be improved? Using Article V of the U.S. Constitution and the power of the states, each episode explores ideas for new constitutional amendments and how Americans can address problems the federal government has struggled to solve. We’ll dig into government spending, federal power, accountability, term limits, and the growing challenges facing our republic. We’ll examine where the federal government has become ineffective and explore whether constitutional reform can create real, lasting solutions. We’ll bring together voices from the left, right, and center to debate ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore what meaningful constitutional reform could look like. No party lines. No sacred cows. Just ideas in the lab. Jordan and Joshua welcome you to The Amendment Lab.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Can States Rein in Washington? Kansas Senators Explain Article V | Ep. 4

    What did it take for Kansas to pass Convention of States legislation after more than 50 years of constitutional restrictions? In Episode 4 of The Amendment Lab, we sit down with Kansas State Senators Mike Thompson and Michael “Mike” Murphy to discuss the state’s journey toward passing its Article V Convention of States resolution. In 1974, Kansas voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers before the state could apply for an Article V convention. That requirement became a significant hurdle for Convention of States supporters. In 2026, Kansas successfully passed SCR 1604, applying for a Convention of States to propose constitutional amendments addressing federal spending, federal authority, and term limits. We explore the legislative process, the challenges of securing support, the history behind the 1974 requirement, and what Kansas’s experience could mean for other states. In this episode: ● Kansas’s 1974 constitutional amendment ● The legislative journey to passing SCR 1604 ● The role of Article V in constitutional reform ● Federalism, state sovereignty, and federal overreach ● Congressional term limits and fiscal restraints ● Lessons from Kansas for other state legislatures Join The Amendment Lab as we explore the Constitution, American government, and the ongoing debate over the balance of state and federal power.

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About

The Amendment Lab is where we examine the biggest challenges facing the United States—and ask a simple question: Can the Constitution be improved? Using Article V of the U.S. Constitution and the power of the states, each episode explores ideas for new constitutional amendments and how Americans can address problems the federal government has struggled to solve. We’ll dig into government spending, federal power, accountability, term limits, and the growing challenges facing our republic. We’ll examine where the federal government has become ineffective and explore whether constitutional reform can create real, lasting solutions. We’ll bring together voices from the left, right, and center to debate ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore what meaningful constitutional reform could look like. No party lines. No sacred cows. Just ideas in the lab. Jordan and Joshua welcome you to The Amendment Lab.