The Federalists suggested that popularly elected conventions ratify the Constitution rather than having it done by state legislatures. The U.S. Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788.
Congress effects changes to the Constitution by proposing amendments that would have to be ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures or state conventions called for the purpose of ratification. Congress cannot make any Constitutional changes on its own.
Article V of the Constitution states: 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 So an amendment can become part of the Constitution either: 1) By the passage of the amendment by 2/3 of the house and 2/3 of the senate, followed by ratification by the legislatures of 3/4 of the states. OR 2) By the legislatures of 2/3 of the states calling a special convention where any approved amendments must be followed by ratification by the legislatures of 3/4 of all the states. Only the first method has ever been successfully used to amend the US Constitution.
U.S. Constitution Article 5: "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."
There are two methods: 1. A specific amendment is written and proposed by 2/3 of the Congress. Then the proposed amendment is sent for ratification to either the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Congress decides whether state legislatures or state ratifying conventions are to be used. For the proposed amendment to become effective 3/4 of the legislatures or conventions must ratify it. 2. A convention for proposing amendments is called for by Congress on application by 2/3 of the states for such a convention. Specific amendments are written by the convention and sent to the states for ratification. Even if the proposed amendments come from a convention rather than from Congress, it is Congress which decides whether ratification is to be by state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Again, for the proposed amendments to become effective, 3/4 of the legislatures or conventions must ratify the proposed amendments. To date the first method, proposal by Congress itself, is the only method by which amendments have been proposed. None of the existing amendments have been proposed by a national convention. To date every amendment to the Constitution with the exception of the Twenty First Amendment (Repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment), has been ratified by state legislatures. The Twenty First Amendment is the only current amendment that has been ratified by state ratifying conventions.
The Federalists suggested that popularly elected conventions ratify the Constitution rather than having it done by state legislatures. The U.S. Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788.
Congress effects changes to the Constitution by proposing amendments that would have to be ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures or state conventions called for the purpose of ratification. Congress cannot make any Constitutional changes on its own.
Article V of the Constitution states: 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 So an amendment can become part of the Constitution either: 1) By the passage of the amendment by 2/3 of the house and 2/3 of the senate, followed by ratification by the legislatures of 3/4 of the states. OR 2) By the legislatures of 2/3 of the states calling a special convention where any approved amendments must be followed by ratification by the legislatures of 3/4 of all the states. Only the first method has ever been successfully used to amend the US Constitution.
U.S. Constitution Article 5: "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."
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;
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;
Article Five of the United States Constitution describes the process whereby the Constitution may be altered. Altering the Constitution consists of proposing an amendment or amendments and subsequent ratification
There are two methods: 1. A specific amendment is written and proposed by 2/3 of the Congress. Then the proposed amendment is sent for ratification to either the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Congress decides whether state legislatures or state ratifying conventions are to be used. For the proposed amendment to become effective 3/4 of the legislatures or conventions must ratify it. 2. A convention for proposing amendments is called for by Congress on application by 2/3 of the states for such a convention. Specific amendments are written by the convention and sent to the states for ratification. Even if the proposed amendments come from a convention rather than from Congress, it is Congress which decides whether ratification is to be by state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Again, for the proposed amendments to become effective, 3/4 of the legislatures or conventions must ratify the proposed amendments. To date the first method, proposal by Congress itself, is the only method by which amendments have been proposed. None of the existing amendments have been proposed by a national convention. To date every amendment to the Constitution with the exception of the Twenty First Amendment (Repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment), has been ratified by state legislatures. The Twenty First Amendment is the only current amendment that has been ratified by state ratifying conventions.
An amendment does not become part of the Constitution unless it is ratified by three-quarters of the states. That would be 38 states. Article V of the U.S. Constitution: "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...".
There are only two groups that can propose an amendment to the US Constitution. These groups include the state legislatures and congress.
proposal by initiative.
2/3