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Constitution
Formal Amendment
Process
• There are four ways to amend
the Constitution
• Amend means to revise, modify
or change
• On page 73 in your book each is
described
Formal Amendment
Process
• First method- an amendment may be
proposed by a two-thirds vote in
each house of Congress and be
ratified by 3/4ths of the state
legislatures. That means 38 state
legislatures must approve an
amendment for it to become part of
the Constitution.
• 26 of the 27 Amendments have been
adopted in this manner
Other ways of amending
the Constitution
• 2nd method- amendment proposed by
Congress and ratified by conventions
for that purpose in 3/4ths of the
states. Only the 21st amendment was
ratified in this way largely because
Congress felt popularly elected
delegates would be more likely to
reflect public opinion regarding the
nationwide repeal of Prohibition
Other methods to amend
the Constitution
• 3rd method- amendment may be
proposed by a nationwide
convention called by Congress
by a request of 2/3rds of the
state legislatures (34 state
legislatures). It then must be
ratified by 3/4ths of the state
legislatures. Congress has
never called such Convention
Amending cont.