Introduction

Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times

A recent study said that the U.S. Constitution was declining in influence. According to the authors, “the constitutions of the world’s democracies are, on average, less similar to the U.S. Constitution now than they were at the end of World War II.”

As the United States prepares to mark the 225th anniversary of its Constitution, we have the benefit of hindsight that the framers lacked. What should be omitted, clarified or added?