Eleanor Finch
A constitutional amendment is a modification of the constitution of a polity, organization, or other type of entity. Amendments are often woven into the relevant sections of an existing constitution, directly altering the text. They can also be appended to the constitution as supplemental additions, changing the frame of government without altering the existing text of the document. The process of amending a constitution varies across jurisdictions. For example, in the United States, an amendment may be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. To become part of the U.S. Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50 states). As of 2025, there have been 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, with approximately 11,848 proposals introduced in Congress since 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments to the US Constitution | 27 |
| First 10 amendments to the US Constitution | The Bill of Rights |
| Date of ratification of the first 10 amendments | December 15, 1791 |
| Number of proposals to amend the US Constitution since 1789 | Approximately 11,848 |
| Average number of proposals to amend the US Constitution per two-year term of Congress | 200 |
| Number of amendments to the Turkish Constitution | 21 |
| Date of implementation of the Turkish Constitution | 1982 |
| Year of amendment of the Turkish Constitution | 2017 |
| Number of amendments to the Greek Constitution | Not specified |
| Procedure for amending the Greek Constitution | Refer to Article 110, "Section II: Revision of the Constitution" |
| Number of amendments to the Irish Constitution | Not specified |
| Procedure for amending the Irish Constitution | Referendum after proposal approval by lower and upper houses of the Oireachtas |
| Number of procedures for the revision of the Treaties of the European Union | 2 |
| Date of implementation of the abovementioned procedures | 2009 |
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What You'll Learn
What is a constitutional amendment?
A constitutional amendment is a modification of the constitution of a political entity, organisation or country. Amendments are often woven into the relevant sections of an existing constitution, directly altering the text. They can also be appended to the constitution as supplemental additions (codicils), changing the frame of government without altering the existing text of the document.
Constitutions typically require that amendments be enacted through a special procedure that is more stringent than the process for passing ordinary legislation. Examples of such procedures include supermajorities in the legislature, direct approval by the electorate in a referendum, or a combination of both. A referendum to amend a constitution may also be triggered in some jurisdictions by popular initiative.
In the United States, there have been 27 amendments to the Constitution, beginning with the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791. Amendments may be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. When an amendment is proposed by Congress, it is done so in the form of a joint resolution. Once an amendment is ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 of 50 states), it becomes part of the Constitution.
The process for amending a constitution varies from country to country. For example, the Constitution of Greece can be amended through the terms mentioned under Article 110, while the Constitution of Ireland can only be modified by referendum following a proposal approved by the lower and upper houses of the Oireachtas. The Turkish constitution has been amended 21 times, with all amendments being passed by the people through a constitutional referendum in 2017.
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How is an amendment ratified?
The process of amending the US Constitution is deliberately difficult. An amendment may be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. Congress proposes an amendment in the form of a joint resolution, which is forwarded directly to NARA's Office of the Federal Register (OFR) for processing and publication. The OFR then assembles an information package for the States, which includes formal "red-line" copies of the joint resolution, copies of the resolution in slip law format, and other statutory information.
The Archivist then submits the proposed amendment to the States for their consideration by sending a letter of notification to each Governor, along with the informational material prepared by the OFR. The Governors then formally submit the amendment to their State legislatures or call for a convention, depending on what Congress has specified. When a State ratifies a proposed amendment, it sends the Archivist an original or certified copy of the State action, which is immediately conveyed to the Director of the Federal Register.
The OFR examines ratification documents for facial legal sufficiency and an authenticating signature. If the documents are in good order, the Director acknowledges receipt and maintains custody of them. The OFR retains these documents until an amendment is adopted or fails, after which the records are transferred to the National Archives for preservation. A proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution as soon as it is ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 out of 50 States).
When the OFR verifies that it 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 and serves as official notice to the Congress and the Nation that the amendment process has been completed. In recent history, the signing of the certification has become a ceremonial function attended by various dignitaries, including the President.
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How is an amendment different from the constitution?
A constitutional amendment is a modification of the constitution of a polity, organization, or other type of entity. Amendments are different from the constitution itself in that they are changes or additions to the original document, rather than a replacement of it. The constitution is the foundational document that outlines the structure and principles of a government, while amendments are changes made to specific sections of that document over time.
Amendments can be interwoven into the relevant sections of an existing constitution, directly altering the text. Alternatively, they can be appended to the constitution as supplemental additions (codicils), thereby changing the frame of government without altering the existing text of the document. Most constitutions require that amendments be enacted through a special procedure that is more stringent than the process for passing ordinary legislation. For example, in the United States, an amendment may be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. To date, all 27 amendments to the US Constitution have been proposed by Congress and ratified by the requisite number of states.
The process of amending a constitution can vary depending on the country and its specific procedures. In some cases, amendments may require supermajorities in the legislature, direct approval by the electorate in a referendum, or a combination of different special procedures. For instance, the Turkish constitution has been amended 21 times, with each amendment passed by the people through a constitutional referendum. On the other hand, the Constitution of Ireland can only be modified by referendum following a proposal approved by the lower and upper houses of the Oireachtas.
Amendments are an important tool for updating and refining a constitution to reflect changing societal needs and values. They allow for the evolution of a nation's governing principles while maintaining the foundational framework established by the original constitution. By requiring a more stringent process for amending the constitution compared to ordinary legislation, it helps ensure that any changes made are carefully considered and broadly supported.
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What are some examples of amendments?
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since its ratification in 1788. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were passed in 1789 and ratified on December 15, 1791.
The First Amendment
Passed on September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791, the First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the [...]". This amendment protects the freedom of religion and prevents the government from establishing an official religion.
The Fourteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment, in part, states that: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to its jurisdiction, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside". It also includes provisions ensuring equal protection under the law and due process rights.
The Twenty-Second Amendment
The Twenty-Second Amendment, passed in 1947 and ratified in 1951, limits the President to two terms in office. The amendment specifies that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice".
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment, passed and ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age to 18. It states that "the right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age".
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment, the most recent amendment, was originally proposed in 1789 but wasn't ratified until 1992. It requires that any changes in pay for members of Congress cannot take effect until after an election.
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What is the process of proposing an amendment?
The Constitution of the United States outlines two methods for proposing amendments:
Proposal by Congress
The first method requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This means that two-thirds of the Members present must vote in favour of the proposed amendment. Following this, the amendment is proposed in the form of a joint resolution, which is forwarded directly to the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) for processing and publication. The OFR then adds legislative history notes to the joint resolution and publishes it in slip law format.
Proposal by Constitutional Convention
The second method involves a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. However, it is important to note that none of the amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention so far. This method of proposing amendments has sparked debates among scholars regarding the level of control Congress has over the process, as well as the possibility of a "runaway convention".
Once an amendment is proposed, it is submitted to the States for their consideration. When a State ratifies a proposed amendment, it sends an original or certified copy of the State action to the Archivist, who then conveys it to the Director of the Federal Register. The amendment becomes part of the Constitution when it is ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 out of 50 States). The OFR then drafts a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify that the amendment is valid, which is published in the Federal Register and U.S. Statutes at Large, marking the completion of the amendment process.
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Frequently asked questions
An amendment is a modification of the constitution. Amendments are often interwoven into the relevant sections of an existing constitution, directly altering the text.
To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 since 1959) by either (as determined by Congress): The legislatures of three-fourths of the states, or state ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states.
Approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789. Thirty-three amendments have been proposed by the United States Congress and sent to the states for ratification since the Constitution was put into operation on March 4, 1789. Twenty-seven of those have been ratified and are now part of the Constitution.
