Understanding the Constitutional Amendment Process
The Power of Proposal
The process of amending the United States Constitution begins with a proposal, which can originate from two sources: Congress or a convention of states. Congress holds the primary authority to propose amendments, requiring a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Congress's Role
Within Congress, any member can introduce a resolution to amend the Constitution. However, for an amendment to be considered seriously, it typically requires the support of a coalition of legislators across party lines.
The Ratification Process
Once an amendment has been proposed by Congress, it enters the ratification phase. The Constitution mandates that three-fourths of the states must ratify the amendment before it becomes part of the Supreme Law of the Land.
State Legislatures and Conventions
States can ratify amendments through their respective legislatures or by holding state conventions specifically convened for that purpose. The choice of ratification method is determined by each state's own procedures.
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