What fraction must an amendment get to be ratified?
What fraction must an amendment get to be ratified?
three-fourths
Proposed amendments must be ratified by three-fourths of the states in order to take effect. Congress may set a time limit for state action.
How are the amendments to the constitution proposed?
The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. None of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention.
When does a state ratify a constitutional amendment?
In the past, some State legislatures have not waited to receive official notice before taking action on a proposed amendment. When a State ratifies a proposed amendment, it sends the Archivist an original or certified copy of the State action, which is immediately conveyed to the Director of the Federal Register.
Who is responsible for the ratification of the Constitution?
After Congress proposes an amendment, the Archivist of the United States, who heads the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is charged with responsibility for administering the ratification process under the provisions of 1 U.S.C. 106b. The Archivist has delegated many of…
How is the Constitution submitted to the States?
The Archivist submits the proposed amendment to the States for their consideration by sending a letter of notification to each Governor along with the informational material prepared by the OFR. The Governors then formally submit the amendment to their State legislatures or the state calls for a convention, depending on what Congress has specified.
How is an amendment to the Constitution ratified?
To ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the legislatures in three-fourths of the states or ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states must approve the proposed amendment. If two-thirds of Congress votes in favor of an amendment, it passes to the states for ratification.
How many states have ratified the United States Constitution?
A proposed amendment joins the Constitution once three-fourths of the states (38 of 50) have ratified it. State ratifying conventions are another method of ratification. They consist of average citizens, rather than government officials. The only amendment thus far that state ratifying conventions ratified is the 21st Amendment.
Who is responsible for ratifying the United States Constitution?
When the amendment is ready for ratification, it goes before the governing body responsible for ratifying it. In the case of the United States, this would be Congress. If Congress approves the amendment, it is sent out to the states for ratification, which then confirms that the amendment is both valid and enforceable.
Which is an example of a state ratifying convention?
State ratifying conventions are another method of ratification. They consist of average citizens, rather than government officials. The only amendment thus far that state ratifying conventions ratified is the 21st Amendment. The 21st Amendment is the amendment that authorized the prohibition of alcohol back in January of 1919.