How can the Constitution be amended? In three paragraphs

Answer 1

The Constitution of the United States can be amended through a distinct but deliberate process outlined in Article V. There are two primary methods to propose amendments. The first method involves a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Once the proposal is passed, it is sent to the states for ratification. To be added to the Constitution, the amendment must be ratified by three-fourths (or 38) of the state legislatures within a specified time period.

The second method to propose amendments is through a constitutional convention. This method requires two-thirds (or 34) of the state legislatures to request a convention to be held. The proposed amendments are then submitted to the states for ratification, just like with the first method. This process grants the states significant power as they can potentially bypass Congress to propose amendments. However, despite several attempts, this second method has never been successfully used to amend the Constitution.

Regardless of the method used to propose amendments, ratification remains the same. Three-fourths of the state legislatures must approve the amendment within a set time limit. Alternatively, if Congress chose, they could call for a national convention to be held in each state to ratify the proposed amendment. However, this method has also never been used. The amendment process, intentionally made challenging, was designed to give stability and durable foundations to the Constitution while allowing for necessary changes to reflect the evolving needs of the nation.