Under Article V, how is an amendment proposed and ratified?

Under Article V, how is an amendment proposed and ratified?

• A. Proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or a national convention; ratified by three-fourths of the states
• B. Proposed by the president; ratified by a simple majority of the states
• C. Proposed by the Supreme Court; ratified by the president
• D. Proposed by a national referendum; ratified by the states by unanimity

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that amendments to the Constitution require broad, cross-branch and cross-state agreement. To propose an amendment, you don’t turn to the president or the courts; you need a large, representative consensus: two-thirds of both houses of Congress, or a national convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. For the actual changes to take effect, three-fourths of the states must ratify the amendment. Congress determines how ratification occurs, choosing either state legislatures or ratifying conventions in the states. This combination of high thresholds protects the document from easy or impulsive changes and keeps the process deliberately statewide and deliberative. So, proposing by two-thirds of Congress or a national convention, and ratifying by three-fourths of the states (via legislatures or conventions as Congress specifies) is the mechanism described in Article V. The other options don’t fit because the president or Supreme Court doesn’t propose or ratify amendments, and a simple majority or a national referendum isn’t how amendments are designated under Article V.

The key idea is that amendments to the Constitution require broad, cross-branch and cross-state agreement. To propose an amendment, you don’t turn to the president or the courts; you need a large, representative consensus: two-thirds of both houses of Congress, or a national convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. For the actual changes to take effect, three-fourths of the states must ratify the amendment. Congress determines how ratification occurs, choosing either state legislatures or ratifying conventions in the states. This combination of high thresholds protects the document from easy or impulsive changes and keeps the process deliberately statewide and deliberative.

So, proposing by two-thirds of Congress or a national convention, and ratifying by three-fourths of the states (via legislatures or conventions as Congress specifies) is the mechanism described in Article V. The other options don’t fit because the president or Supreme Court doesn’t propose or ratify amendments, and a simple majority or a national referendum isn’t how amendments are designated under Article V.