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Article V: How To Amend
Article V is one sentence. It is the only legal mechanism that permanently changes the structure of the United States government. Everything else can be reversed.
Body
Article V — Full Text
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
SAY WHAT?
How An Amendment Gets Ratified
1
The Proposal
Option B has never been used.
2
Sent to the States
Congress decides how states ratify: through state legislatures or through state ratifying conventions.
Only one amendment, the 21st, used state conventions.
3
Ratification
38 states (three-fourths) must ratify it. Once they do, it becomes part of the Constitution.
The president has no formal role. No signature required.
WHAT'S THE DIFF?
Amendment vs. Law
Constitutional Amendment
Regular Federal Law
What it does
Changes the Constitution itself.
Creates or changes ordinary law.
Who proposes it
Two-thirds of Congress or a state convention with two-thirds of states.
Any single member of Congress.
What it takes to pass
Two-thirds of both chambers, then 38 states ratify.
Simple majority in both chambers.
President's role
None. No signature required.
Signs or vetoes. Veto overridden by supermajority.
Can it be undone
Only by another amendment.
Repealed by a new law or struck down by a court.
TIME
How Long Does It Take?
From the day Congress passed it to the day the last state ratified it. Can you guess which one took the longest? Tap a card to see the count.
It is hard. It is supposed to be hard. But it is not impossible, and it is the only change that a future Congress, president, or court cannot undo.