The Constitution Chapter 3

Section 2 Formal Amendment

Important Vocabulary amendment ratification formal amendment A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law. ratification Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty formal amendment Change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself through one of four methods set forth in the Constitution.

The Formal Amendment Process Two methods of proposing amendments Proposed by 2/3 majority vote in both houses of Congress Proposed at a national convention called by Congress when requested by 2/3 of State legislatures. Two methods of ratifying amendments Ratified by ¾ of the State legislatures Ratifies by conventions in ¾ of the States

Federalism and Popular Sovereignty The amendment processes reflect the concept of federalism that is embodied by the U.S. system of government. Both the national and state levels must participate The amendment process also reflects the concept of popular sovereignty. The governing bodies closest to the people – or – the people directly are involved in the amendment process.

Proposed Amendments 33 Amendments have made it through Congressional approval. Only 27 have become part of the Constitution. e.g. The Equal Rights Amendment (1972) would have written into the Constitution equal treatment under the law regardless of sex.

The 27 Constitutional Amendments The Bill of Rights First 10 Amendments to the Constitution Proposed in 1789 and ratified by late 1791 Set out the great constitutional guarantees of freedom of belief and expression, freedom of security of the person, and of fair and equal treatment before the law. The Later Amendments Added over the subsequent 200+ years of American history. Many grew out of historical circumstances and the changing nature of American society. e.g. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments resulted out of the Civil War.