Describe the formal amendment process in the U.S. Constitution.

Describe the formal amendment process in the U.S. Constitution.

• A. Proposed by two-thirds of both houses; ratified by three-fourths of the states.
• B. Proposed by a simple majority in Congress; ratified by a simple majority of the states.
• C. Proposed by the President; ratified by state referenda.
• D. Proposed by two-thirds of state legislatures; ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Answer: (A)

The formal amendment process is designed to be deliberate and require broad agreement. To propose an amendment, two-thirds of both houses of Congress must approve it. To become part of the Constitution, three-fourths of the states must ratify it. Ratification can occur either by the state legislatures or by state conventions, as determined by Congress at the time of proposing. This matches the option described, where a proposal goes through two-thirds of Congress and ratification requires three-fourths of the states. The other choices miss the required supermajorities, misplace who initiates amendments, or mix in procedures (like simple majorities or referenda) that the Constitution does not require for formal amendments.

The formal amendment process is designed to be deliberate and require broad agreement. To propose an amendment, two-thirds of both houses of Congress must approve it. To become part of the Constitution, three-fourths of the states must ratify it. Ratification can occur either by the state legislatures or by state conventions, as determined by Congress at the time of proposing.

This matches the option described, where a proposal goes through two-thirds of Congress and ratification requires three-fourths of the states. The other choices miss the required supermajorities, misplace who initiates amendments, or mix in procedures (like simple majorities or referenda) that the Constitution does not require for formal amendments.