3.2 US Government

Some subjects of successful amendments include:

13th amendment Abolition of slavery, 9th Amendment Women Suffrage, 22nd Amendment Limit of Presidential terms, Amendment 18 and 21=Prohibition of Alcohol

Proposed by Congress by a _____________ vote in both houses.

2/3

Proposed by a national convention called by Congress at the request of ________ of the State Legistlatures.

2/3

In order to propose, Congress...

2/3 of a vote on a national level.

The Constitution has been formally amended ________ times.

27

Ratification Method: Ratified by the state legislatures and special conventions held in ________ of the states.

3/4

In order to ratify, Legislative needs...

3/4 of votes from 38 states.

Article __________ sets out two methods for the ______________ and two methods for the _______________ of constitutional amendments.

5, proposal, ratification

Once three-fourths of the states have ratified an amendment,.....

A state may not change its mind and repeal its ratification.

Only 33 amendments have been sent to the states,

And six of them were never ratified.

Federalism

Divided power between state and government.

Informal

Not accepted.

What role does the President play in the amendment process?

Political Influence

What is the only limit on amendments?

Shields the 1st clause of Article 1, Section 3 which provides for equal representation of the states.

Proposal

Suggest the idea, or suggestion.

Only the 21st amendment does this apply.....

That 3/4 of the amendment was ratified by conventions.

Critics complain that the people should have the ultimate ability to ratify.....

The constitution, not the state legislatures.

Repeal

To deny or cancel.

Ratify

To pass/to make official.

Amendment proposed by Congress, Ratified by state legistlatures.

Two-thirds of both the House and The Senate must pass the proposed amendment. Three fourths of state legislatures must ratify (approve by a majority vote) the amendment. Twenty-six of the 27 amendments have been passed this way.

Amendment proposed by Congress, Ratified by State Conventions

Two-thirds of both the House and the Senate must pass the proposed amendment. A special convention of elected delegates must meet to consider the amendment in each state. Three-fourths of the conventions must ratify the amendment. Only the 21st amendment (Repealing Prohibition) was ratified in this way.

Amendment proposed by a national convention, Ratified by State Legistlatures

Two-thirds of the state legislatures must request that Congress summon a national convention. Three-fourths of the state legislatures must ratify the amendment. The threshold for a national convention has been nearly met twice.

Amendment proposed by a National Convention, Ratified by State Conventions

Two-thirds of the states Legistlatures must request that Congress summon a national convention. Special conventions in three-fourths of the states must ratify the amendment. This method most closely matches the drafting and ratification of the Original Constitution.

Framers

Were aware that future circumstances might require Constitutional change, developed by a process for formal amendments.

May a state consider ratification more than once (i.e. change its mind)?

Yes

May Congress impose a time limit on the states for considering ratification?

Yes, reasonable time limit (7 years)

Formal

officially accepted