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, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress...."
—United States Constitution, Article V
Question
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
Which of the following best summarizes this excerpt?
(1 point)
Responses
Alterations to the Constitution must be deemed necessary and proposed by the House of Representatives.
Alterations to the Constitution must be deemed necessary and proposed by the House of Representatives.
Each state legislature may choose between either mode of ratification to ratify a proposed amendment.
Each state legislature may choose between either mode of ratification to ratify a proposed amendment.
New additions to the Constitution can be proposed with backing from a congressional majority.
New additions to the Constitution can be proposed with backing from a congressional majority.
The intent of Article V is to provide the legislative branch with the power of ratification.
19 answers
(1 point)
Responses
The judicial branch tries government employees that are accused of committing a crime.
The judicial branch tries government employees that are accused of committing a crime.
The judicial branch has the ability to declare a law unconstitutional.
The judicial branch has the ability to declare a law unconstitutional.
The judicial branch writes the bills that are then sent to the legislative branch.
The judicial branch writes the bills that are then sent to the legislative branch.
The judicial branch has a responsibility to ensure that the committee system functions appropriately.
(1 point)
Responses
Foreign countries demanded repayment of their war loans from the government.
Foreign countries demanded repayment of their war loans from the government.
Trade became complicated because states printed their own currencies.
Trade became complicated because states printed their own currencies.
Congress began to sell sections of land in the Northwest Territory.
Congress began to sell sections of land in the Northwest Territory.
Expeditions were sent to the West in search of gold and silver to back the new paper money.
(1 point)
Responses
running school boards
running school boards
providing funding
providing funding
setting standards
setting standards
hiring teachers
- Running school boards
- Providing funding
- Setting standards
- Running school boards
- Providing funding
(1 point)
Responses
He refused to sign the United States Constitution.
He refused to sign the United States Constitution.
He encouraged others to oppose the ratification of the Constitution.
He encouraged others to oppose the ratification of the Constitution.
He assembled an antifederalist convention in Virginia to discuss the matter.
He assembled an antifederalist convention in Virginia to discuss the matter.
He wrote a pamphlet titled “Objections to This Constitution of Government.”
(1 point)
Responses
by limiting the amount of power of the government
by limiting the amount of power of the government
by placing protections on the civil rights of the nation's citizens
by placing protections on the civil rights of the nation's citizens
by implementing safeguards against the abuse of power
by implementing safeguards against the abuse of power
by allowing the people to choose their representatives
by allowing the people to choose their representatives
(1 point)
Responses
A system of checks and balances is designed to prevent abuse of power.
A system of checks and balances is designed to prevent abuse of power.
The four branches equally share one-quarter of the power.
The four branches equally share one-quarter of the power.
Powers not mentioned in the Constitution are assumed to belong to the federal government.
Powers not mentioned in the Constitution are assumed to belong to the federal government.
The separation of powers ensures that no one branch has too much power.
- A system of checks and balances is designed to prevent abuse of power.
- The separation of powers ensures that no one branch has too much power.
(4 points)
1. Proposal: An amendment can be proposed by either:
- Two-thirds vote of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or
- By a convention called by Congress upon application of two-thirds of the state legislatures.
2. Ratification: The proposed amendment must then be ratified by either:
- Three-fourths of the state legislatures, or
- Ratification conventions in three-fourths of the states, as determined by Congress.
The process of amending the Constitution requires both proposal and ratification stages, involving either a two-thirds majority of Congress or a convention and then approval by three-fourths of the states.
The Constitution can be amended through:
- Proposal: An amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a convention called by Congress upon application of two-thirds of the state legislatures.
- Ratification: The proposed amendment must then be ratified by either three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states, as determined by Congress.
In summary, amending the Constitution requires a proposal stage followed by a ratification stage, using either a two-thirds majority in Congress or conventions of the states and subsequent approval by three-fourths of the states.