Isabella Carter
The Constitution of the United States is made up of seven articles that outline the federal government's basic structure. It has been amended several times, with 27 amendments in total, including the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791. The amendment process involves two steps: proposals must be adopted and ratified before they can change the Constitution. This can be done through Congress or a national convention, and three-fourths of the states must approve. The US Congress has proposed 33 amendments, and six have not been ratified by the required number of states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Articles | 7 |
| Date of signing | 17 September 1787 |
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Number of amendments | 27 |
| Number of proposals to amend the Constitution | Approximately 11,848 |
| Number of amendments pending | 4 |
| Number of amendments closed | 2 |
| Number of amendments sent to states for ratification | 33 |
| Number of amendments not ratified by the required number of states | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
There have been 27 amendments to the US Constitution
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was first signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are collectively referred to as the Reconstruction Amendments.
Amending the US Constitution is a two-step process. First, the amendment must be proposed and adopted. This can be done in two ways: by a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or by a national convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures. The second step is ratification, which requires the approval of three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50). This can be done through the consent of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions, with Congress deciding on the ratification method for each amendment.
Since 1789, approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress. Members of the House and Senate typically propose around 200 amendments during each two-year term of Congress. However, most of these proposals die in congressional committees, and none of the recent proposals have become part of the Constitution. The last proposal to gain the necessary two-thirds support in both the House and the Senate for submission to the states was the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment.
Of the 27 ratified amendments, four are still pending, one failed by its own terms, and one failed by the terms of the resolution proposing it. The process of amending the Constitution is designed to strike a balance between the need for change and the importance of stability.
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Congress has the authority to propose amendments
The Constitution of the United States forms the basic framework of the federal government. It consists of seven articles, with Article I describing the Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. Congress consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives, whose members must fulfil certain requirements, including being at least 25 years old, being a citizen of the United States for seven years, and living in the state they represent.
The second step of the amendment process involves ratifying the proposed amendment, which requires the approval of three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50). There are two procedures for ratifying: through the consent of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. The specific ratification method is chosen by Congress for each amendment. Once a state ratifies a proposed amendment, it sends the Archivist an original or certified copy of the state action, which is conveyed to the Director of the Federal Register.
Congress has historically proposed constitutional amendments by enacting joint resolutions. Since the founding, members of Congress have introduced more than 11,000 proposed amendments, with Congress approving only 33 proposed amendments by the requisite two-thirds vote.
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Amendments must be ratified by three-fourths of the states
The United States Constitution, written "to endure for ages to come", has been amended only 27 times since it was drafted in 1787. The process of amending the Constitution is intentionally challenging and time-consuming. The authority to amend the Constitution is derived from Article V of the Constitution.
The first step in the amendment process is the proposal stage. An amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, or by a national convention, which can be called by two-thirds of state legislatures.
Once a proposal has been adopted, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, or 38 of 50 states. This can be done through the consent of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. State ratifying conventions have only been used once, for the Twenty-first Amendment. The Archivist of the United States is responsible for administering the ratification process. When a state ratifies an amendment, it sends the Archivist an original or certified copy of the state action. The Office of the Federal Register (OFR) examines these documents for legal sufficiency and authenticity.
Once the OFR has received the required number of authenticated ratification documents, it drafts a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify that the amendment is valid and has become part of the Constitution. This certification is published in the Federal Register and U.S. Statutes at Large, serving as official notice to Congress and the nation that the amendment process is complete. The signing of the certification has become a ceremonial function attended by dignitaries, sometimes including the President.
The amendment process is designed to be rigorous, ensuring that only ideas of major impact or those securing the rights of citizens are enshrined in the Constitution.
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The Constitution outlines the basic framework of the federal government
The Constitution of the United States is a foundational document that establishes the framework for the country's federal government. It consists of seven articles, which outline the structure and functions of the government, ensuring a balance of power.
The first three articles of the Constitution define the three branches of the federal government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch, as described in Article I, comprises the Congress, which is further divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives. This article establishes the election process and qualifications for members of each body. For instance, representatives must meet certain age and citizenship requirements and reside in the state they represent.
The executive branch, led by the President, is responsible for executing the laws and administering the government. The President is the head of state, Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and is supported by the Vice President, who assumes the presidency in the event of a vacancy. The executive branch also includes the Cabinet, which advises the President.
The judicial branch, outlined in Article III, is responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring that the other branches adhere to the Constitution. It includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Supreme Court, composed of justices nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, has the power to overturn unconstitutional laws.
The Constitution also establishes a system of checks and balances among the branches. Each branch has the ability to respond to the actions of the others. For example, the President can veto legislation passed by Congress, while Congress can override the President's veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. Additionally, Congress has the power to confirm or reject the President's nominees for federal agencies and high court appointments.
Furthermore, the Constitution provides for a process of amendment to allow for changes and adaptations over time. Amendments to the Constitution must be properly adopted and ratified before they can take effect. This involves achieving a two-thirds majority in Congress or through a national convention called by a majority of state legislatures. Ratification requires the approval of three-fourths of the states, either through their legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
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The Constitution is the supreme law of the land
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land. It is the foundational document of the country, outlining the basic framework of the federal government and the rights of its citizens. The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification, with amendments being a challenging process to prevent arbitrary changes.
The Constitution is made up of seven articles, with amendments still including the original text. Article I describes the legislative branch, Congress, and the manner of election and qualifications of its members. The article establishes a Senate and House of Representatives, with representatives needing to be at least 25 years old, citizens for seven years, and residents of the state they represent.
Article VI establishes the supremacy of the Constitution and federal laws and treaties over state laws. It requires federal and state legislators, officers, and judges to take an oath to support the Constitution. This article also includes the statement, "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States".
The Constitution was drafted with the aim of creating a government with sufficient power to act nationally, while also protecting fundamental rights. This was achieved through a system of checks and balances, dividing the power of government into three branches to ensure no single branch became too powerful.
The Constitution is the source of all government powers and also provides limitations on those powers to protect the rights of citizens. It is the supreme law, with the court system having the final say on whether actions of Congress or federal agencies are permissible under the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
There are seven articles in the US Constitution, which define the basic framework of the federal government.
There have been 27 amendments to the US Constitution, beginning with the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791.
There are two steps to amend the US Constitution. First, the proposed amendment must be adopted by either Congress (with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives) or a national convention (called whenever two-thirds of state legislatures collectively request one). Second, the proposed amendment must be ratified, which requires the approval of three-fourths of the states (38 of 50).
Since 1789, there have been approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the US Constitution.
