This is super cool. I wonder if it could be taken a step further?
Because to me, the interesting parts are not the final versions, but would be in seeing the version history of the constituion as it was drafted and language was changed and rechanged, even with commit notes taken from records of the constitutional convention.
For example, the currently topical impeachment language went through revisions on "be removable on impeachment and conviction of": [1]
> "malpractice or neglect of duty." -- two North Carolina members
> "treason, bribery, or corruption." -- five-member drafting committee
> "treason, bribery, or maladministration." -- George Mason
> "high crimes and misdemeanors against the United States." -- delegates
> "high crimes and misdemeanors." -- final version
It really would be fascinating to watch the constitution evolve in "real time" across all edits. I don't know if anyone's done something like that before. Obviously it would be a tremendous amount of scholarly work to put together.
I think this should be reviewer comments on the pull request or issue that drove the change. It's not nicely representable in git, but it is on GitHub.
Because to me, the interesting parts are not the final versions, but would be in seeing the version history of the constituion as it was drafted and language was changed and rechanged, even with commit notes taken from records of the constitutional convention.
For example, the currently topical impeachment language went through revisions on "be removable on impeachment and conviction of": [1]
> "malpractice or neglect of duty." -- two North Carolina members
> "treason, bribery, or corruption." -- five-member drafting committee
> "treason, bribery, or maladministration." -- George Mason
> "high crimes and misdemeanors against the United States." -- delegates
> "high crimes and misdemeanors." -- final version
It really would be fascinating to watch the constitution evolve in "real time" across all edits. I don't know if anyone's done something like that before. Obviously it would be a tremendous amount of scholarly work to put together.
[1] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-19-mn-55593...