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The most common ratification method is by vote of the individual state legislatures, of which at least 3/4 must vote for ratification. However, Congress called for the ratification of the 21st Amendment (repeal of Prohibition and the 18th Amendment) by the second method listed in Article V, which is by special state conventions.

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8y ago
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12y ago

They can be ratified in only one way, and that is acceptance by three fourths of the states. Only The People can make changes to the Constitution, and that is The People independent of the government. Amendments can be presented for ratification in a couple of different ways. They can be prepared by Congress, or they can come from the states themselves without permission of the government. The only thing that Congress gets to decide when the states themselves want to prepare an amendment is how the states will ratify it. The states can do it through state legislatures or through special state conventions. This second method of amending the Constitution has never been used. Many think that the government is stalling in allowing the states to use this method. In fact, the states do not need permission. IFgovernment is getting in the way of informing the states how to ratify, then government is derelict and action must be taken. The authority of the states acting together trumps absolutely anything in the Constitution, including the authority of any group or individual.

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9y ago

The first method is for a bill to pass both houses of the legislature, by a two-thirds majority in each. Once the bill has passed both houses, it goes on to the states. This is the route taken by all current amendments. Because of some long outstanding amendments, such as the 27th, Congress will normally put a time limit (typically seven years) for the bill to be approved as an amendment (for example, see the 21st and 22nd).

The second method prescribed is for a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments. These amendments are then sent to the states to be approved by three-fourths of the legislatures or conventions. This route has never been taken, and there is discussion in political science circles about just how such a convention would be convened, and what kind of changes it would bring about.

Regardless of which of the two proposal routes is taken, the amendment must be ratified, or approved, by three-fourths of states. There are two ways to do this, too. The text of the amendment may specify whether the bill must be passed by the state legislatures or by a state convention.

See the Ratification Convention Page for a discussion of the make up of a convention. Amendments are sent to the legislatures of the states by default. Only one amendment, the 21st, specified a convention.

In any case, passage by the legislature or convention is by simple majority. The Constitution, then, spells out four paths for an amendment:

  • Proposal by convention of states, ratification by state conventions (never used)
  • Proposal by convention of states, ratification by state legislatures (never used)
  • Proposal by Congress, ratification by state conventions (used once)
  • Proposal by Congress, ratification by state legislatures (used all other times)
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11y ago

From the US. Constitution, Article V:"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress. "legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof".

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11y ago

Article 5 of the Constitution specifies this.

Ratification can be done by 2/3 of the Congress or 3/4 of the State's legislatures via a Constitutional Convention.

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12y ago

1. an amendment is official when 3/4 of the state legislatures approve it, or

2. when special conventions in 3/4 of the state approve it

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11y ago

1. 3/4 of the legislatures in the states must ratify any amendment.

2. 3/4 of the states must have individual constitutional conventions to ratify the amendment.

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12y ago

1. an amendment is official when three-fourths of the state legislatures approve it.

2. when special conventions in three-fourths of the states approve it.

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12y ago

more than half of the states have toagree

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Q: What are two ways amendments to the US constitution can be ratified?
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Continue Learning about U.S. History

What are the two amendments that were not ratified?

During the course of our history, in addition to the 27 amendments which have been ratified by the required three-fourths of the States, six other amendments have been submitted to the States but have not been ratified by them.


How much of the state must ratify the amendment?

An amendment does not become part of the Constitution unless it is ratified by three-quarters of the states. That would be 38 states. Article V of the U.S. Constitution: "The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress...".


Do states ratify amendments?

The method of ratification is decided by the body that passes the amendment, which historically has been the US Congress (by 2/3 vote of both houses).In all but one case, the approved amendments were ratified by state legislatures.However, the language of the 21st Amendment (1933) specified its passage by state conventions rather than state legislatures. This was particularly chosen to avoid opposition by the same groups that had successfully lobbied for the passage of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition, 1920) which the 21st Amendment repealed.* Should a national constitutional convention (Article V Convention) successfully be called, it too would be empowered to specify the means by which any of its proposed amendments would be ratified.


Who makes amendments?

Amendments to the United States Constitution are created two different ways. First, by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The second way is by a constitutional convention that is called by at least a two-thirds majority of all state legislatures.


By what two methods can amendments to the US Constitution be proposed and ratified?

There are actually four methods.An Amendment may be proposed by two-thirds vote in each house of congress, and ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.An Amendment may be proposed by Congress and then ratified by conventions, called for that purpose in three-fourths of the state3.An Amendment may be proposed by a national convention, called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of state legislatures, and then ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.An amendment may be proposed by a national convention and ratified by conventions in three-fourths of the states.Answered directly from the "American Government" Textbook.

Related questions

What are two examples of how the constitution has both endured and changed since it was ratified?

Look to the amendments to find the changes to the constitution.


What are the two amendments that were not ratified?

During the course of our history, in addition to the 27 amendments which have been ratified by the required three-fourths of the States, six other amendments have been submitted to the States but have not been ratified by them.


When were the first ten amendments to the constitution adopted in?

1791


When was the Bill of Rights first drafted?

The Bill of Rights, which is actually the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, was written by James Madison after the Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788 and obviously, before he presented his proposal on June 8, 1789 during the First Congress. The US Congress approved 12 of these amendments on September 25, 1789 but the first two amendments were not ratified.


What are two ways in which the us constitution and the state constitution are similar?

There various ways that the US Constitution and state constitutions are similar. The two main ways are the fact that they both define governments and allow for amendments.


What 2 steps are required for amending the constitution?

There are two ways to propose and ratify amendments to the Constitution. To propose amendments two thirds of both houses of congress can vote to propose an amendment, and two thirds of the state legislatures can ask congress to call a national convention to propose amendments.


Who decides if an amendment is passed or not?

Article V in the Constitution spells out the ways how a Constitution can be amendment or changed. All of the 27 amendments have been proposed by two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress, and only the Twenty-first Amendment was ratified by constitutional conventions of the states. All other amendments have been ratified by state legislature.


What is the what is the process for amending the Constitution?

There are two ways to propose and ratify amendments to the Constitution. To propose amendments two thirds of both houses of congress can vote to propose an amendment, and two thirds of the state legislatures can ask congress to call a national convention to propose amendments.


How did the constitution eventually get ratified?

it was ratified by the fifty-two presidents


Amendments can be proposed by?

An amendment to the Constitution can be proposed in two ways; either through Congress or through a Constitutional Convention.


Twelve amendments were proposed to the constitution but only 10 were ratified and became the bill of rights what happened to the other 2 amendments?

The 27th Amendment was one of those two and was added to the Constitution in 1992 (proposed in 1789). It was ratified 202 years later! This amendment concerns Congressional Salaries - Congress members can increase their salary but it won't take effect till next session.


What were the two amendments that James Madison made but were rejected?

Only 10 of the 12 Amendments James Madison proposed to the Constitution were ratified. The two that weren't were one that capped the number of members in the House of Representatives, and one that prohibited Congress giving itself an increase in salary.