Simone Lawson
The US Constitution was ratified by state conventions, not Congress, meaning its authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected to approve or disapprove the charter. This approach reflected the will of the electorate. There are two methods by which states may ratify amendments to the Constitution. The first method requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment and a three-fourths vote of the State Legislature to ratify the amendment. The second method requires a three-fourths vote of the state legislatures to ratify an amendment to the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of methods | 2 |
| First method | Requires three-fourths of the state legislatures to ratify an amendment to the Constitution |
| Second method | Requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment and a three-fourths vote of the State Legislature to ratify the amendment |
| Ratification agents | State conventions, not Congress |
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What You'll Learn
- Amendments to the Constitution may be ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States
- Amendments can be ratified by Conventions in three-fourths of States
- The Supreme Court has changed the meaning of the Constitution by ruling against/in favour of a certain issue
- Ratifying conventions served the function of informing the public of the provisions of the proposed new government
- Ratifying conventions served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry
Amendments to the Constitution may be ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States
The US Constitution can be ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three-fourths of the States. Congress decides which of these two methods the states must use to ratify a particular proposed amendment.
The first method of ratification requires three-fourths of the state legislatures to ratify an amendment to the Constitution. This can be achieved by getting a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment, and then a three-fourths vote of the State Legislature to ratify the amendment.
The second method involves calling a Constitutional convention by two-thirds of the state legislatures, with a three-fourths vote to ratify the amendment.
The ratifying conventions served the necessary function of informing the public of the provisions of the proposed new government. They also served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry. State conventions, not Congress, were the agents of ratification. This approach ensured that the Constitution's authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected for the purpose of approving or disapproving the charter, resulting in a more accurate reflection of the will of the electorate.
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Amendments can be ratified by Conventions in three-fourths of States
Article V of the Constitution sets forth two methods by which states may ratify amendments to the Constitution. Amendments can be ratified by either the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three-fourths thereof. The choice of the mode of ratification lies in the sole discretion of Congress.
The first method of ratification requires three-fourths of the state legislatures to ratify an amendment to the Constitution. This can be achieved by getting a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment. The second method is to call a Constitutional convention by two-thirds of the state legislatures with a three-fourths vote to ratify the amendment.
The ratifying conventions served the necessary function of informing the public of the provisions of the proposed new government. They also served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry. Significantly, state conventions, not Congress, were the agents of ratification. This approach insured that the Constitution's authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected for the purpose of approving or disapproving the charter, resulting in a more accurate reflection of the will of the electorate.
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The Supreme Court has changed the meaning of the Constitution by ruling against/in favour of a certain issue
The Constitution can be ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three-fourths thereof. Congress determines which of the two methods the states must use in order to ratify a particular proposed amendment. The first method of ratification requires three-fourths of the state legislatures to ratify an amendment to the Constitution. The second method is to call a Constitutional convention by two-thirds of the state legislatures with a three-fourths vote to ratify the amendment.
The meaning of the Constitution has changed both by formal and informal methods. The Supreme Court has changed the meaning of the Constitution by ruling against/in favour of a certain issue depending on the Court's interpretation of the law. This is an informal method of changing the meaning of the Constitution.
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Ratifying conventions served the function of informing the public of the provisions of the proposed new government
Ratifying conventions were a key method used to inform the public about the provisions of the proposed new government. They served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry. State conventions, not Congress, were the agents of ratification. This approach ensured that the Constitution's authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected for the purpose of approving or disapproving the charter, resulting in a more accurate reflection of the will of the electorate.
The ratification of the Constitution was a complex process that involved multiple steps and methods. According to Article V, there are two methods by which states may ratify amendments to the Constitution. The first method requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment, followed by a three-fourths vote of the State Legislature to ratify the amendment. The second method involves calling a Constitutional convention, which requires a two-thirds vote of the state legislatures and a three-fourths vote to ratify the amendment.
The choice of ratification method lies with Congress, which determines which process the states must follow for a particular proposed amendment. The ratifying conventions played a crucial role in this process by providing a platform for public discussion and deliberation on the proposed new government.
By holding these conventions, the public was informed about the details of the proposed government and had the opportunity to hear different perspectives. This allowed citizens to make informed decisions and ensured that the will of the people was accurately represented in the ratification process. The conventions also helped to bypass potential amendments from state legislatures, which might have been resistant to yielding authority to a national government. Overall, the ratifying conventions served as an important mechanism for engaging and educating the public during the ratification of the Constitution.
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Ratifying conventions served as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry
There are two methods by which states may ratify amendments to the Constitution. The first method of ratification requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment and a three-fourths vote of the State Legislature to ratify the amendment. The second method is to call a Constitutional convention by two-thirds of the state legislatures with a three-fourths vote to ratify the amendment.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution was ratified by state conventions, not Congress.
State conventions inform the public of the provisions of the proposed new government. They also serve as forums for proponents and opponents to articulate their ideas before the citizenry.
Congress determines which of the two methods the states must use in order to ratify a particular proposed amendment.
The first method requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment and a three-fourths vote of the State Legislature to ratify the amendment. The second method is to call a Constitutional convention by two-thirds of the state legislatures with a three-fourths vote to ratify the amendment.
State conventions ensured that the Constitution's authority came from representatives of the people specifically elected for the purpose of approving or disapproving the charter, resulting in a more accurate reflection of the will of the electorate.
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