U.S. Government Part II.B - Formal Constitutional Amendment Process

Balanced budget amendment

failed - Constitutional amendment requiring govt. to spend no more than it collects in taxes and other revenues excluding borrowing

Equal rights amendment

failed - constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 but never ratified that would have banned discrimination on the basis of gender

D.C. Representation in Congress amendment

failed - this proposed amendment was proposed by the Congress on August 22, 1978, but failed to be ratified by 38 states prior to its expiration on August 22, 1985.

Time limit for amendment ratification

seven years from date of proposal passing Congress or state Constitutional convention

Two ratification methods for Constitutional Amendments (what are they and how many times have each been used?)

Amendments can be ratified by three-quarters of the state legislatures ratifying an amendment passed by Congress (used for 26 of 27 amendments), or the legislatures of two-thirds of the states can call a Constitutional convention (only used once -- for 21st amendment to end prohibition).

Reynolds vs. Sims

1964 - The supreme court held that state legislative districts not based on the "one man, one vote: formula violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment

Two proposal methods for amending the Constitution

Either 2/3s of both houses of Congress can lead to Congress proposing an Amendment, or 2/3s of the state legislatures can call a Convention for proposing Amendments. Since the Constitution was originally ratified, numerous amendments have been proposed by Congress, but the states have never voted to call for a new constitutional convention.

Fundamental law vs. statutory law

Fundamental law outlines the basic principales ,powers, and structures of a government. Statutory law on the other hand, is made up of the detailed rules of government, the laws, or statutes,passed by a legislature.