article five
Amend the constitution APEX
Amend the Constitution
Amend the constitution APEX
The most common way to amend a state constitution is by having Congress propose a new amendment to be voted on in the next election.
Amend the Constitution.
two-thirds of the states may ask Congress to call a national convention.
Ratify the Constitution. With the ever changing tides of contemporary political and social balances, only modifications in our own base governmental rules can keep this fluctuation smooth.
The Amendment process is the formal way to change the Constitution. An amendment may be proposed by two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Ratification of an amendment takes three-fourths of the states to approve.
2/3rds majority in both the US House and Senate are required to propose an amendment to the US Constitution. Once passed by Congress, the amendment requires ratification of 3/4ths of the States to become law.
The process to amend the constitution does involve the president in any direct way. Congress does not even have to let the president know if it passes a proposed amendment.
Section 3 of Article IV of the U.S. Constitution states:"New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within theJurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State."This section of the Constitution is what set up a way for territories to become states.Sources:"The Constitution of the United States," Article 4, Section 3
There are two ways to change the Constitution of the United States, formally and informally. There are several ways to informally change the Constitution. One example is Article I, Section 8, Clause 18. It is known as the "elastic clause" because it "stretches" the power of Congress. This gives Congress the power to pass laws considered "necessary and proper" for carrying out the other powers of Congress. The development of political parties, political custom, and tradition are also informal ways to change the Constitution. For example, the Constitution says nothing about the President's Cabinet to help him/her make decisions. This was begun by Washington and developed over the years by presidents who felt they needed special advisors for various subjects. The Amendment process is the formal way to change the Constitution. An amendment may be proposed by two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Ratification of an amendment takes three-fourths of the states to approve.