Table of Contents
- 1 What is the authority of Congress to amend the Constitution?
- 2 What is the constitutional amendment process in the US?
- 3 How do you propose an amendment to the Constitution?
- 4 How many states had the power to amend the Constitution?
- 5 Can a state propose an amendment to the Constitution?
- 6 How many amendments to the Constitution have been approved by Congress?
Authority to Amend the U.S. Constitution Article V of the United States Constitution outlines basic procedures for constitutional amendment. Congress may submit a proposed constitutional amendment to the states, if the proposed amendment language is approved by a two-thirds vote of both houses.
What is the constitutional amendment process in the US?
Constitutional Amendment Process. The Governors then formally submit the amendment to their State legislatures or the state calls for a convention, depending on what Congress has specified. In the past, some State legislatures have not waited to receive official notice before taking action on a proposed amendment.
How do you propose an amendment to the Constitution?
The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.
Who is responsible for ratifying the Constitution?
After Congress proposes an amendment, the Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is charged with responsibility for administering the ratification process under the provisions of 1 U.S.C. 106b.
Who can propose amendments to the Constitution?
Any member of Congress or state legislature can propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Since 1787, more than 10,000 amendments have been proposed.
How many states had the power to amend the Constitution?
Eight state constitutions in effect at the time of the 1787 Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia included an amendment mechanism. Amendment-making power rested with the legislature in three of the states and in the other five it was given to specially elected conventions.
Can a state propose an amendment to the Constitution?
The U.S. Constitution does not contain a provision requiring Congress to submit a proposed amendment upon request by some requisite number of states. In addition to constitutional amendments proposed by Congress, states have the option of petitioning Congress to call a constitutional convention.
How many amendments to the Constitution have been approved by Congress?
This article is about the 33 constitutional amendments approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification since 1789. For proposals to amend the United States Constitution introduced in but not approved by the U.S. Congress, see List of proposed amendments to the United States Constitution. Wikimedia list article.