Quick Facts...
- In the U.S. congress, both the House of Representatives and the senate approve by 2/3 majority vote, a joint resolution amending the Constitution.
- Amendments that are approved don't require the signature of the president of the U.S. and are sent directly to the States for ratification.
- 2/3 of the state legislature ask Congress to call a national convention to propose amendments. (This method has never been used.)
Ratifying Amendments...
- 3/4 of the state legislature approve it, or
- Ratifying conventions in 3/4 of the states approve it. This method has been used only once to ratify the 21st amendment, repealing prohibition.
- The Supreme Court has stated that ratification must be within "some reasonable time after the proposal." Beginning with the 18th amendment, it has been customary for Congress to set a definite period for ratification.
- In the case of the 18th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd amendments, the period was 7 years, but there has been no determination as to just how long a "reasonable time" might extent.
- Of the thousands of proposals that have been made to amend the Constitution, only 33 obtained the necessary 2/3 vote in Congress.
- Of those 33, only 27 amendments (including the Bill of Rights) have been ratified.