How can the Constitution be amended?
1 Answer
See an explanation below:
Explanation:
From: Article V of the US Constitution
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
An Amendment can be proposed in one of two ways:
1) whenever two thirds of both houses (House of Representatives and the Senate) shall deem it necessary,
2) on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments. This is called a Constitutional Convention.
An Amendment is ratified in one of two ways as proposed by Congress:
1) when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states.
2) by conventions in three fourths thereof
Today, three fourths of the states would be 38 states.
