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What groups are involved in proposing and ratifying amendments to the Constitution?
There are only two groups that can propose an amendment to the US Constitution. These groups include the state legislatures and congress.
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What are the amendment to the constitution?
Changes to the Constitution Changes or additions made to the original document are called amendments. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. The Constitution of The United States is the primary set of laws that govern the U.S. and any other laws passed by congress or the states or any other governing body are subordinate to it and can not violate the contents of the constitution. No law could be passed that contradicts any part of the constitution and the Supreme Court has the authority to declare a law as contrary to the constitution (unconstitutional), invalid and unenforceable. A group called the Anti-federalists objected to the constitution as it was originally written. They felt that it gave the federal government to much power and could lead to abuse of that power. Before the Constitution could be ratified and accepted as law, a group of laws to address this issue were submitted to be included as part of the constitution. Rather than actually modify the constitution, ten of these laws were accepted as amendments to the constitution. These first ten amendments are now known as the Bill of Rights. Since than, whenever a new law was needed that did not conform to the constitution, it had to be submitted as an amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. Although a proposed law goes into effect by being passed by both houses of congress and than by the President, an amendment needs a more involved procedure. A constitutional amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. It can also be proposed by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures, although this has not yet occurred. It than has to be ratified by 3/4 of the states by having the state legislatures approve it or by state ratifying (constitutional) conventions approving it. Congress decides whether it is done by the legislatures or conventions. Once three fourths of the states have ratified the amendment, it becomes part of the constitution.
What does it mean to amend the constitution?
Amendments are additions or clarifications. When a constitutional amendment is accepted and enacted, it effectively adds its contents to the constitution, or clarifies points set forth in either the constitution or another amendment. In the Constitution of the United States of America, numerous amendments have been accepted, some shortly after the document was drafted. Effectively, the Constitution served as the foundation, the framework for the ideals of the government. Amendments were proposed, and some added, to expand upon the Constitution's intent. The first ten constitutional amendments, collectively called the Bill of Rights, was completed roughly a decade after the Constituton was adopted. Amendments can be removed. The 18th Amendment was ratified in 1919, and banned alcohol in the United States. This period, called Prohibition, ended in 1933 when the 21st Amendment was passed. The sole purpose of the 21st Amendment was to repeal the 18th Amendment. In summary: to amend any document, constitutions included, means to modify, add, or clarify the document.
Which person was not involved in the development of the US Constitution?
Jefferson. He was in France.
Why did many thoughtful Americans opposed the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution?
Some thought the Bill of Rights was not needed because the rights involved were implied in the Constitution as written. However, by and large the Bill of Rights was not opposed by "many thoughtful Americans" as ten of the twelve proposed amendments making up the Bill were adopted within a very few years of being proposed.
Who is involved in the amendment process?
An amendment to the Constitution of the US can be made in two ways. A proposal by two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Proposed amendments must be ratified (approved) by three-fourths of the states.
