1. Formal Amendment
Chapter 3-2

2. Formal Amendment Process
The Framers knew that even the wisest of constitution makers cannot build for all time. The Constitution provides for its own amendment process for changing.

3. Formal Amendment
Changes or additions that become part of the written language of the Constitution itself.

4. First Method
An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress and be ratified by three fourths of the State legislatures.

5. Second Method
An amendment may be proposed by Congress then ratified by conventions in three fourths of the States.

6. Third Method
An amendment may be proposed by a national convention, called by Congress at the request of two thirds of the State Legislatures.

7. Fourth method
An amendment may be proposed by a national convention and ratified by conventions in three fourths of the States.

8. Federalism and Popular Sovereignty
Proposal takes place at the national level and ratification is a State-by-State matter.

9. The 27 Amendments
There are 27 amendments to the Constitution.

10. The Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.

11. Later Amendments
Timeline: 11th amendment was passed in 1795 and the 27th amendment was passed in 1992.