The Amendment Process

Proposing an Amendment

• Two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote to propose it (the method used for all 27 amendments so far), or
• A convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures proposes it — a method never yet used.

Ratifying an Amendment

Three-fourths of the state legislatures, or three-fourths of state ratifying conventions, must approve it — Congress chooses which method applies.

Entrenchment Clauses

Two provisions were made unamendable for a time or altogether: no amendment before 1808 could touch the slave-trade clause, and no state may be deprived of its equal Senate suffrage without its consent.