The Constitution of the United States can be amended through a two-step process involving proposal and ratification. Here’s a summary of the process:
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Proposal: An amendment can be proposed in one of two ways:
- By Congress: A two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is required to propose an amendment.
- By a Constitutional Convention: Alternatively, two-thirds of state legislatures can call for a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments.
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Ratification: Once proposed, an amendment must be ratified in one of two ways:
- By State Legislatures: Three-fourths (currently 38 out of 50) of state legislatures must approve the amendment.
- By State Conventions: Alternatively, three-fourths of the states can ratify the amendment through state conventions.
This process ensures that amendments reflect a broad consensus at both the federal and state levels.