THE AMENDMENT
PROCESS

The US Constitution IS and IS
NOT the same document
written in 1787.
Some Words have been
eliminated, some have been
added.
Keys to help
To amend means to change
To propose means to suggest
To ratify means to approve or pass
2/3 will always apply to the federal Gov't
¾ will always apply to the states
Federal Gov't will always propose
States will always ratify

By having the federal government propose and the
states ratify, what basic principle of the constitution is
at work?
FORMAL AMENDMENT
PROCESS


Process explained in Article V
of the Constitution
Two Methods of Ratification
First-- Proposed by 2/3 of
Congress/Ratified by ¾ of
State Legislatures
 26 of 27 Amendments
adopted this way
Second—Proposed by 2/3 of
Congress/Ratified by ¾ of
special State Conventions
 21st Amendment adopted
this way (Repealing
Prohibition)
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Congress does not present a
proposed amendment to the
president for his signature or
veto.
Proposed Amendments Continued
States can change their minds if
they first reject an amendment
(not the opposite)
33 Made it to the states
10,000 Amendments proposed in
Congress.
Only 27 finally ratified
Congress can set deadlines for
the ratification time allowed
CONSTITUTIONAL BREAKDOWN
Preamble: States the purpose
Article I: Legislative Power – Congress
Elastic Clause, Also known as ?
Free Exercise Clause
Establishment Clause
Article II: Executive Power - President
Article III: Judicial Power – Courts
Article IV: Relations between the states
Article V: The Amendment Process
CONSTITUTIONAL BREAKDOWN
Article VI: General Provisions,
Supremacy of the Constitution
Article VII: Ratification Process
Bill of Rights: First 10 Amendments
in Constitution
SUPREMACY CLAUSE
Article VI, Section 2
If ever the state government and federal
government conflict on an issue, the
federal government reigns supreme
The Constitution is the highest form of
law in the American legal system.
As a refresher…
How many methods of Ratification are
there?
What percentage is needed for an
amendment to be proposed?
What percentage is needed for
ratification?
How many amendments do we currently
have today?
How many are in usage today?
HOMEWORK
Learning about the amendments helps you
understand your freedom's.
Your homework tonight is to think about the
amendments we have learned about and
describe by writing an amendment that you
would add to the Constitution.
What do you think is missing in this great
country?
What impact would the Amendment have on
society and our lives?
Please be school appropriate 