Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution has been amended only 27 times since it was drafted in 1787. The first 10 amendments were adopted four years later as the Bill of Rights. The authority to amend the Constitution is derived from Article V of the Constitution. The first step in amending the Constitution is for Congress to propose an amendment with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First step in amending the constitution | Congress proposes an amendment with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate |
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What You'll Learn
- The first step is for Congress to propose an amendment with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate
- Alternatively, two-thirds of the State legislatures can call for a constitutional convention to propose an amendment
- The Archivist of the United States is responsible for administering the ratification process
- The amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 of 50 States)
- The OFR drafts a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify that the amendment is valid and has become part of the Constitution
The first step is for Congress to propose an amendment with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate
The first step in amending the Constitution of the United States is for Congress to propose an amendment with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is derived from Article V of the Constitution, which states that two-thirds of both Houses must deem it necessary to propose an amendment.
The amendment process is a formal and detailed procedure. After Congress proposes an amendment, the Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is responsible for administering the ratification process. The Archivist has delegated many of the duties associated with this function to the Director of the Federal Register.
It is important to note that the idea for an amendment must be of major impact, affecting all Americans or securing the rights of citizens. Since the Constitution was drafted in 1787, it has only been amended 27 times, including the first 10 amendments adopted four years later as the Bill of Rights.
Once an amendment is proposed by Congress, it is forwarded directly to NARA's Office of the Federal Register (OFR) for processing and publication. The OFR verifies that it has received the required number of authenticated ratification documents before drafting a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify that the amendment is valid.
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Alternatively, two-thirds of the State legislatures can call for a constitutional convention to propose an amendment
The first step in amending the Constitution of the United States is to propose an amendment. This can be done either 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.
The Archivist and the Director of the Federal Register follow procedures and customs established by the Secretary of State, who performed these duties until 1950, and the Administrator of General Services, who served in this capacity until NARA assumed responsibility as an independent agency in 1985. Once 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 to the Nation that the amendment process has been completed.
Since the Constitution was drafted in 1787, it has been amended 27 times, including the first 10 amendments adopted four years later as the Bill of Rights.
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The Archivist of the United States is responsible for administering the ratification process
The Archivist and the Director of the Federal Register follow procedures and customs established by the Secretary of State, who performed these duties until 1950, and the Administrator of General Services, who served in this capacity until NARA assumed responsibility as an independent agency in 1985.
The first step in amending the Constitution is for Congress to propose an amendment with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Alternatively, a constitutional convention can be called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures to propose an amendment. However, none of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention.
Once an amendment is proposed, the Archivist of the United States administers the ratification process. This involves receiving authenticated ratification documents from the States and drafting a formal proclamation to certify that the amendment is valid and has become part of the Constitution.
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The amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 of 50 States)
The first step in amending the US Constitution is for the proposed amendment to be ratified by three-fourths of the States (38 out of 50 States). This is a requirement for the amendment to become part of the Constitution. The Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is responsible for administering the ratification process. The Archivist has delegated many of the duties associated with this function to the Director of the Federal Register.
The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Alternatively, it can be proposed by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. However, none of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention. The Congress proposes an amendment in the form of a joint resolution. Since the President does not have a constitutional role in the amendment process, the joint resolution does not go to the White House for signature or approval. Instead, the original document is forwarded directly to NARA's Office of the Federal Register (OFR) for processing and publication.
Once 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 to the Nation that the amendment process has been completed.
The Constitution has been amended only 27 times since it was drafted in 1787, including the first 10 amendments adopted four years later as the Bill of Rights. The idea behind an amendment must be one of major impact, affecting all Americans or securing the rights of citizens.
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The OFR drafts a formal proclamation for the Archivist to certify that the amendment is valid and has become part of the Constitution
The first step in amending the Constitution of the United States is for Congress to propose an amendment. This requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.
Once Congress has proposed an amendment, the OFR verifies that it has received the required number of authenticated ratification documents. The OFR then 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 has been completed.
The OFR's formal proclamation is a critical step in the amendment process, ensuring that the amendment has met the necessary requirements and has been duly ratified by the required number of States. It provides a formal record of the amendment's validity and its integration into the Constitution.
The Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is responsible for administering the ratification process. The Archivist has delegated many of the ministerial duties associated with this function to the Director of the Federal Register. The ratification process is guided by procedures and customs established by the Secretary of State and the Administrator of General Services, who previously performed these duties.
The OFR's proclamation is a key milestone in the amendment process, marking the transition from proposal to ratification. It ensures that the amendment has undergone the necessary scrutiny and approval, solidifying its place within the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step in amending the constitution is for a proposal to win two-thirds of the vote in both houses of Congress, the House and the Senate.
The second step is for the proposal to be approved by three-fourths of the State Legislatures.
The third step is for the proposal to be ratified by the President.
The fourth step is for the proposal to be sent to the states for ratification.
