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What principal do each of the four methods of the formal amendment demonstrate?
Federalism
What are two ways of proposing an amendment to the Constitution?
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.
Why has it been necessary to make changes in the constitution by methods in addition to formal amendment-?
Because the need to "repeal" amendments was sometimes necessary and desired by the people, as in the 18th amendment.
When can the Constitution not be amended?
The Constitution cannot be amended if sufficient agreement is not reached. There are two methods of amendment, both requiring defined levels of agreement between the states and the Congress. If agreement is reached, the amendment is adopted. Amendments can also be repealed by the enactment of a further amendment.
How many changes or amendments can be made to the constitution?
There are two basic methods to propose an amendment, and four ways to go about actually making the amendment a reality. One way is a proposal by congress, which is followed by ratification by state conventions. This method has only been used once.
