2 Stages of the Formal Amendment Process.

Amending the Constitution

Amending the Constitution requires two stages: proposal and ratification. Both Congress and the states can play a role in the proposal stage, but ratification is a process that must be fought in the states themselves. Once a state has ratified an amendment, it cannot retract its action. However, a state may reject an amendment and then reconsider its decision.

Proposal Stage of Amendment Process.

Amendments can be proposed by a 2/3 vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. OR: By a national convention, summoned by Congress at the request of 2/3 of the state legislatures. All constitutional amendments to date have been proposed by the first method; the second has never been used.

How is a proposed amendment ratified?

By a vote of the legislatures of 3/4 of the states. Or: By a vote of constitutional conventions held in 3/4 of the states. Congress chooses the method of ratification.

What are the 2 stages of the amendment process?

The amendment process has two stages, proposal and ratification; both are necessary for an amendment to become part of the Constitution.