How does the constitution be amended?

Answer 1

Article V of the Constitution prescribes how an amendment can become a part of the Constitution. While there are two ways, only one has ever been used. All 27 Amendments have been ratified after two-thirds of the House and Senate approve of the proposal and send it to the states for a vote. Then, three-fourths of the states must affirm the proposed Amendment.

The other method of passing an amendment requires a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States. That Convention can propose as many amendments as it deems necessary. Those amendments must be approved by three-fourths of the states.

The actual wording of Article V is: "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."

Answer 2

Article. V.

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.

Answer 3

Article V of the Constitution provides two methods to propose amendments and two methods for ratification. Constitutional amendment proposals in method one are by joint resolution of the Congress with a 2/3 vote in each house. (This is the only method that has been used.) Method two is by way of petitions to Congress by 2/3 of the states to conduct a convention for proposing amendments, and then holding such a convention. (An Article V convention has never been held).

Amendments proposed by either the congressional method or the convention method are then submitted to the states for ratification. There are two possible methods here as well. Ratification can be done by way of the votes of the state legislatures or by specially elected delegates to state ratification conventions. In either case, ratification requires the votes of 3/4 of the states. The convention method was used in the case of the 21st Amendment (repeal of prohibition).

Answer 4

Amendments to the Constitution can be proposed by the United States Congress or national convention of several states. The process by which the constitution can be amended is in article V.