What is the process for amending the US Constitution?
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, and it outlines the structure and organization of the federal government. It is a document that can only be amended through a process known as “constitutional amendment.” The amendment process consists of two steps: proposal and ratification. Proposal is the first step in the amendment process. An amendment may be proposed by Congress by a two-thirds vote of both houses or by a national convention called by Congress for that purpose. If two-thirds of the state legislatures request Congress to call a convention, they must do so. The next step is ratification. Once an amendment has been proposed, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or conventions in three-fourths of the states. This means that 38 states must approve the amendment for it to become part of the Constitution. The process for amending the U.S. Constitution is a deliberate one that ensures all parts of the country have an opportunity to weigh in. While the process clearly states how an amendment could be proposed and ratified, it does not outline how long the process would take or what topics may be addressed in an amendment. Amending the Constitution is a rare occurrence, and the majority of amendments become part of the Constitution through the ratification process.
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