User:Atcovi/Amending the Constitution

How Amendments Are Made
The Constitution has been amended, or changed, 27 times. The first ten of these amendments, are known as the Bill of Rights, came into being in 1791. This means that our Constitution has been amended only 16 times since then! The Founding Fathers wrote a plan of government so workable and farseeing that it has required only a handful of changes in more than 200 years.

Article V (five) of the Constitution outlines the two ways the document can be amended. First, Congress can propose an amendment by 2/3 vote of both houses. Second method (never used), Congress call a special convention to consider a suggested amendment.

Once an amendment passes through Congress or a convention, it must be approved by 3/4 of the states. There is usually a time limit of 7 years of ratification. Congress could increase that time if necessary. They had to increase the time of approval for the Equal Rights Amendment, but it failed to be approved (ratified)

short "guide" on Amending the Constitution...


 * How can the Constitution be amended?

Proposed by action by Congress or convention --> Ratified by the states


 * How is an amendment proposed?


 * 1) Action by Congress: Proposed by 2/3's vote of both houses of Congress (House and Senate) or...
 * 2) Action by convention: a national convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the state legislature (34/50 states).


 * How is it ratified???


 * 1) 3/4 of state legislatures must approve (ratify) the amendment in order to become a law.