I AM GRATEFUL to various program chairs of the American Political Science Association, who allowed me to organize panels over a four-year period that explored various aspects of the issues surrounding constitutional change and the notion of “amendment.” Several of the papers in this volume were first presented in that venue, and others were suggested by the discussions that ensued. A key participant in two of those panels was Will Harris, of the University of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, circumstances made it impossible for him to contribute to this volume, but no one should doubt the immense impact—reflected explicitly in several of the essays—that he has had on those who study the theory of constitutional amendment. Chapter Four of his book The Interpretable Constitution is essential reading for anyone who shares these interests (as is, indeed, the entire book).
As always, the University of Texas Law School was supportive in every way, not least by giving me the opportunity to teach a seminar on the metatheory of constitutional amendment. My secretary, Cheryl Harris, is unending in her conscientiousness and good cheer, which made preparation of the final manuscript much easier.
I am also grateful to Malcolm DeBevoise of Princeton University Press for his consistent encouragement of this project, and for his toleration of the inevitable delays attached to edited collections. I appreciate as well Lois Krieger’s thoughtful copy editing. Most of all, though, I must thank the contributors themselves, who participated in this project with unfailing cooperation.