9 out of 13 states had to approve or ratify. The process was called ratification
Chat with our AI personalities
Two-thirds of the states must vote to accept the constitution, or an amendment to the constitution for it to become a law. The process is called ratification.
Yes, It can. But nobody has done it in 2000 yet.
In the United States, a change in the US Constitution is called an amendment. The Constitution itself describes what must be done to make a change in that governing document. Other nations with a constitution also have their own ways of changing their own constitution.
Article V of the US Constitution contains a most unusual option; unusual because it has never been used in the history of the country. Why? Because Congress refuses to obey this provision, which says that Congress "shall" convene a convention of state delegates with the power to propose amendments to the Constitution. The one and only explicit requirement has long been satisfied. Much more than 2/3 of the states have asked for a convention. In fact, over 750 applications from all 50 states have been submitted; they can be examine on the website of Friends of the Article V Convention at foavc.org.
The type of law that that is passed after the deed is done is called an ex post facto law. These are expressly forbidden by the Constitution.
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.