What is the process for amending the US Constitution?
Amending the United States Constitution is a complex process that requires the agreement of both the Federal and State governments. The Constitution may be amended by Congress, either by Congress acting on its own or through a Constitutional Convention called by two-thirds of the State legislatures. When Congress proposes an amendment, it must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate with a two-thirds majority, before being sent to the State legislatures for ratification. Three-fourths of the State legislatures must ratify the amendment in order for it to become part of the Constitution. Alternatively, two-thirds of the State legislatures may call for a Constitutional Convention, to which Congress must call if requested. The proposed amendment must then pass by a two-thirds majority in the Convention, before being sent back to the States for ratification. In Hawaii, the amendment process is the same as the Federal process. The State legislature can pass a resolution to call for a Constitutional Convention, in which a two-thirds majority is needed to pass the amendment. Or, the legislature can pass the amendment with a two-thirds majority, before sending it to the Governor for signature. The proposed amendment must then be ratified by two-thirds of the State legislatures, in order for it to become part of the Hawaii Constitution.
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