3. Section Objectives:
Identify the four different ways by which the
Constitution may be formally changed (amended).
Explain how the formal amendment process illustrates
the principles of federalism and popular sovereignty.
4.6 – Understand the concept of federalism
5.4 – Understand the U.S. Constitution as a living
document in both principle and practice
4. Amendment is proposed by 2/3 vote in each
house of Congress
Ratified by ¾ of state legislatures (38 states)
26 Amendments have been adopted this way
5. Amendment is proposed by 2/3 vote in each
house of Congress
States call conventions to ratify an
amendment
¾ states needed to ratify
One amendment adopted this way (21st)
6. Proposed by a national convention that has
been called for by 2/3 of the state legislatures
Ratified by ¾ of state legislatures (38 states)
No amendments have been adopted this way
7. Proposed by a national convention that has
been called for by 2/3 of the state legislatures
Ratified by ¾ of state conventions (38 states)
No amendments have been adopted this way
8. Amendments are always proposed at the
national level and ratified at the state level
2/3 votes to propose, ¾ votes to ratify
9. Nearly 15,000 joint resolutions have called for
amendments to Constitution since 1789
Only 33 have been sent to the states for ratification
Of those, only 27 have passed.
That is 1 out of every 555 resolutions that ends up
going to the states for ratification.
(In other words, a proposed amendment has 1/5 of 1%
chance of success – about the odds of catching a ball
at a major league baseball game)
10. Each of you will create a poster to illustrate
an amendment.
Be creative. Use your imagination and artistic
ability.
This will count as a test grade.