For a bill to become a law, it must first be passed by both houses of congress, and then signed by the president (the procedure is different in other countries, but let's discuss how it's done in the USA). But for an amendment to be added to the constitution, there is one extra (and very difficult) step. After the proposed amendment passes both houses of congress, it must then be ratified by 3/4 of the states. If this does not occur, it dies and does not become an amendment. For example, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by congress, but it did not gain approval of 3/4 of the states, so it never became a law.
It passed
The 13th Amendment. It freed all slaves.
The 19th Amendment (passed in 1920).
The states ratified it and congress passed it.
Civil Rights Act of 1866
In order for a constitutional amendment to be passed, it needs to be approved by two-thirds (66.67) of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in Congress.
When a constitutional amendment has been ratified it means that the amendment had been passed or agreed upon by 3/4 of congress and is now being made a legal amendmen to our Constitution
a. A constitutional amendment requires a 2/3 vote in both houses. It also requires to be ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures. b. A law requires a majority vote in both houses.
The amendment that Congress passed in 1865 was the Thirteenth amendment and it banned slavery in the United States.
It passed
74th
18th amendment.
The 13th Amendment. It freed all slaves.
The 19th Amendment (passed in 1920).
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is not currently part of the U.S. Constitution. It aimed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex and was first proposed in 1923. Despite passing Congress in 1972, it failed to be ratified by enough states to become a constitutional amendment.
A constitutional amendment is proposed and submitted to the states for approval
The states ratified it and congress passed it.