There is a BIG reason the US Constitution is much different than any in Europe...historically people in the US don't trust government any where near as much as Europeans. Unfortunately, that seems to be changing here. In the US we built a government on the idea of the importance of liberty for the individual. We actually see people as individuals instead of ants to be managed for the most part. Maybe that's one reason why we have become the most powerful nation in the world for over a century now?

Concerning constitutional amendments in general:
Yes, they are simply changes to the original constitution. However, they usually aren't just changes for change's sake. They are put in place for specific reasons. Have you ever read the preamble to the US Constitution Bill of Rights? If you haven't, I highly recommend it. It will explain why reading restrictions into them that limit you and I (like what is regularly and wrongly read into the "well regulated militia" phrase in the Second Amendment that gun control advocates cling to) seems illogical and way out of their scope. Here is the preamble for your enjoyment and education:

"Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution."

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