Excerpt from the U.S. Constitution Something that is permanent lasts forever. As Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1789, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” How does the excerpt from the U.S. Constitution explain why an amendment process to the U.S. Constitution is needed? Franklin thought that death and taxes were things all people would experience. Franklin thought that the U.S. Constitution was not going to last longer than a year. Franklin expected that the Bill of Rights would not be approved by enough states. Franklin knew that the Constitution, while permanent, would probably need changes.