The Constitution can be amended in two ways. The first way is through a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. This method involves proposing an amendment that must receive an affirmative vote from at least two-thirds of the members in both chambers, which ensures that the amendment has broad support from the legislative branch. Once both houses have approved the amendment, it is then sent to the states for ratification, where it requires approval from three-fourths (or 38 out of 50) of the states to become part of the Constitution.
The second way is through a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures. This method has never been used in U.S. history, but it is outlined in Article V of the Constitution. In this scenario, if two-thirds of the states (34 out of 50) submit requests for a convention, a gathering would be convened to propose amendments. Any amendments proposed by the convention would then need to be ratified by three-fourths of the states. This method allows states to take the initiative in proposing amendments, especially when Congress is unable or unwilling to address certain issues.
An example of why the Constitution would need to be amended is the need to address the issue of voting rights. Over time, shifts in societal values and norms have highlighted the necessity for laws that ensure equal access to the ballot for all citizens. For instance, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 sought to eliminate discriminatory practices that disenfranchised minority voters. However, challenges and changes in interpretation of this Act by the Supreme Court and various legislative measures have led to renewed calls for constitutional amendments that would more explicitly guarantee and protect voting rights for all citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other factors. By amending the Constitution to include clear language about voting rights, it could help to safeguard against future disenfranchisement and ensure that every citizen has the ability to participate fully in the democratic process.