Ch 3 Amending the
Constitution
Formal Amendment
Process
• There are four ways to amend
the Constitution
• Amend means to revise, modify
or change
• On page 73 in your book each is
described
Formal Amendment
Process
• First method- an amendment may be
proposed by a two-thirds vote in
each house of Congress and be
ratified by 3/4ths of the state
legislatures. That means 38 state
legislatures must approve an
amendment for it to become part of
the Constitution.
• 26 of the 27 Amendments have been
adopted in this manner
Other ways of amending
the Constitution
• 2nd method- amendment proposed by
Congress and ratified by conventions
for that purpose in 3/4ths of the
states. Only the 21st amendment was
ratified in this way largely because
Congress felt popularly elected
delegates would be more likely to
reflect public opinion regarding the
nationwide repeal of Prohibition
Other methods to amend
the Constitution
• 3rd method- amendment may be
proposed by a nationwide
convention called by Congress
by a request of 2/3rds of the
state legislatures (34 state
legislatures). It then must be
ratified by 3/4ths of the state
legislatures. Congress has
never called such Convention
Amending cont.
• 4th method- an Amendment may
be proposed by a national
convention and ratified by
conventions in three fourths of
the states. The Constitution it
self was adopted this same
way. Can anyone recall how
many states needed to ratify of
the 13?
Misc. information you
need to know
• Another name for limited government is
rule of law which holds that government
and its officers are always subject to and
never above the law.
• The 22 nd amendment passed in 1951 put
a limit on presidential terms. Can anyone
look in their book and tell me why?
• Who originally set the two term tradition
and who broke that tradition?
Definitions to Remember
• Federalism- division of power among a
central government and several regional
governments
• Unconstitutional- to declare null, illegal or
void– a government action found to violate
some provision in the Constitution
• Judicial review- power of courts to
determine whether or not government is in
accordance with what the Constitution
provides
• Constitutionalism- government must be
conducted according to Constitutional
principles
Informal Amendments
• Changes can also be made to the
Constitution through other ways.
• The five basic ways that the Constitution
can be changed informally include:
• 1) The passage of basic legislation through
Congress
• 2) Actions taken by the President
• 3) Key decisions by the Supreme Court
• 4) Activities of political parties
• 5) Custom