The Constitution and its Amendments

Purpose of the Document

Lays out how government is organized, leaders are selected, and government is limited.

Amendments

Amendments are changes or additions that become part of the written language of the Constitution.

Methods for Proposing

National convention called by Congress at request of two thirds of the State legislatures. This is the least common method and hasn't been called since the original convention.

Congress may propose it with a two thirds vote in each house.

Options for Ratification

Ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or a two thirds vote in both houses.

Ratified by conventions in three-fourths of the states. Only done in case of twenty-first amendment.

Difficulties in Amending

  • Must be debated multiple times
  • Create a supermajority twice
  • Country is populous and diverse

Criticisms of Amending

Constitution change without clear-cut expression by the People.

It's also incredibly difficult. There are much easier ways to change the Constitution, making the amendment process comparatively inefficient.

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