What is true about amending the Constitution?

What is true about amending the Constitution?

• A. Proposals require a simple majority of Congress.
• B. Amendments may be proposed by two-thirds of Congress or a constitutional convention; ratified by three-quarters of the states.
• C. Ratification by all states.
• D. The President can unilaterally amend the Constitution.

Answer: (B)

Amending the Constitution requires a level of agreement well beyond a simple majority. Under Article V, proposals come only if two-thirds of both houses of Congress approve, or if a national constitutional convention is called by two-thirds of the states. After a proposal is made, three-fourths of the states must ratify the change, either through state legislatures or by ratifying conventions, as Congress specifies. The President has no role in this process and cannot unilaterally amend the Constitution. This combination of a two-thirds threshold for proposals and a three-fourths requirement for ratification explains why the correct statement is that amendments may be proposed by two-thirds of Congress or a constitutional convention and ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Amending the Constitution requires a level of agreement well beyond a simple majority. Under Article V, proposals come only if two-thirds of both houses of Congress approve, or if a national constitutional convention is called by two-thirds of the states. After a proposal is made, three-fourths of the states must ratify the change, either through state legislatures or by ratifying conventions, as Congress specifies. The President has no role in this process and cannot unilaterally amend the Constitution. This combination of a two-thirds threshold for proposals and a three-fourths requirement for ratification explains why the correct statement is that amendments may be proposed by two-thirds of Congress or a constitutional convention and ratified by three-fourths of the states.