U.S. Senator Al Franken says that “[o]ur laws need to reflect the evolution of technology and the changing expectations of American society. This is why the Constitution is often called a ‘living’ document.”

U.S. Senator Al Franken says that “[o]ur laws need to reflect the evolution of technology and the changing expectations of American society. This is why the Constitution is often called a ‘living’ document.”

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said, “That’s the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to change with society, like a living organism, or it will become brittle and break. But you would have to be an idiot to believe that. The Constitution is not a living organism, it is a legal document. It says something and doesn’t say other things.”

Discuss whether you consider the U.S. Constitution to be living document that changes to accommodate social trends, or if it is an enduring document defined only by the terms that are written. Be sure to support your points with authoritative sources.