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 only process requires the passage of an amendment and its ratification by 3/4 of the states.
However, the passage may be by Congress or by state conventions (which has never occurred).
Similarly, the ratification by states may be done by the state legislatures or by state conventions called for that purpose, which has been used only once, for the 21st Amendment in 1933. Supporters of the repeal of prohibition used this process to bypass the more politically-influenced state legislatures.
The first method is for a bill to pass both houses of the legislature, by a two-thirds majority in each.
The second method (which has never been used) is for a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments.
The Constitution, then, spells out four paths for an amendment:
two-thirds.
An amendment is an addition, deletion of modification of the contents of the U.S. Constitution. It can be ratified through a majority vote of two-thirds in both legislature houses, and by a constitutional convention.
There are only two way the US Constitution can be changed.Vote of both houses of Congress, followed by ratification by the statesCalling of a Constitutional Convention, followed by ratification by the states.
"Constitutional amendments may be proposed in two ways: 1. by Congress, which the approval of at least two-thirds of the house and two-thirds of the senate. 2. by Delegates at a national convention that is called by congress at the request of at least two-thirds of the state legislatures." United States Government: Principles in practice 2013, Florida Edition pg. 80
Article 5: proposing an amendment requires a vote of two-thirds of both houses of congress, or a national convention called by Congress at the request of two thirds of the legislatures of all states. Thus, either Congress or the states can start the process of amending the Constitution. Proposing an amendment is only the first step/part. Before an amendment can become part of the constitution, it must be approved by the legislatures( or by special conventions) in three quarters of the states. Once an amendment is approved, it becomes part of the supreme law of the land. Over years, people have suggested more than 10,000 amendments to the constitution. Only 27 of these have been approved. The 10 first amendments are called the" BILL OF RIGHTS". Specific rights to the citizens. The other 17 amendments became part of the constitution one at a time. Some of them changed the way certain public officials are elected. Others guaranteed the rights of certain groups of Americans. 13 amendment made slavery illegal. 19 amendment gave the women the right to vote. 26 amendment gave the right to vote to all citizens over the age of 18,Cnces are that only a few amendments will be part of the constitution.
Either a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or a national convention can propose an amendment to the Constitution. Article V of the Constitution says, "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." (Note: The second method for proposing an amendment has only been used for repeal of the 21st Amendment (Prohibition).)
First of all, a two thirds majority of each house of Congress must propose the amendment. Then, a three fourths majority of the states must ratify the amendment.
An amendment to the Constitution can be proposed in two ways; either through Congress or through a Constitutional Convention.
two-thirds.
Two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to propose an amendment. or Two-thirds of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention to propose amendments. (This method has never been used.) I found this on another site. To avoid any questions of plagiarism, here is the link. http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/usconstitution/a/constamend.htm
two-thirds of the House of Representatives and Senate must vote to change the constitution. then the amendment must be revised by the judicial branch to make sure that the amendment is constitutional
An amendment is an addition, deletion of modification of the contents of the U.S. Constitution. It can be ratified through a majority vote of two-thirds in both legislature houses, and by a constitutional convention.
There are only two way the US Constitution can be changed.Vote of both houses of Congress, followed by ratification by the statesCalling of a Constitutional Convention, followed by ratification by the states.
The Constitution may undergo changes with a Constitutional Amendment or Constitutional Convention. The Supreme Court may not actually make changes to the Constitution, but may interpret the lines of the Constitution differently as time passes.
The procedure is called the Amending Formula
"Constitutional amendments may be proposed in two ways: 1. by Congress, which the approval of at least two-thirds of the house and two-thirds of the senate. 2. by Delegates at a national convention that is called by congress at the request of at least two-thirds of the state legislatures." United States Government: Principles in practice 2013, Florida Edition pg. 80
Article 5: proposing an amendment requires a vote of two-thirds of both houses of congress, or a national convention called by Congress at the request of two thirds of the legislatures of all states. Thus, either Congress or the states can start the process of amending the Constitution. Proposing an amendment is only the first step/part. Before an amendment can become part of the constitution, it must be approved by the legislatures( or by special conventions) in three quarters of the states. Once an amendment is approved, it becomes part of the supreme law of the land. Over years, people have suggested more than 10,000 amendments to the constitution. Only 27 of these have been approved. The 10 first amendments are called the" BILL OF RIGHTS". Specific rights to the citizens. The other 17 amendments became part of the constitution one at a time. Some of them changed the way certain public officials are elected. Others guaranteed the rights of certain groups of Americans. 13 amendment made slavery illegal. 19 amendment gave the women the right to vote. 26 amendment gave the right to vote to all citizens over the age of 18,Cnces are that only a few amendments will be part of the constitution.