Amending the U.S. Constitution

In recent weeks, Congress has proposed and worked on amendments to the U.S. Constitution regarding the national debt. The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution as a living document, and procedure to allow the Constitution to change with the times was built in. That said, amending the Constitution is not an easy process.

The Article V. of the U.S. Constitution states that there are two ways to amend and there are two ways to ratify amendments:

Article. V.
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.

List of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/pdf/con001.pdf

Ratification process for amendments:
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/constitution/

Synopsis of amendment and ratification procedure:
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/documents/constitution/amend.html

For indepth analysis of the Amendment and Ratification procedures, read the
Constitution of the United States: Browse, 2002 Edition & 2008 Supplement: Mode of Amendment
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/pdf2002/015.pdf

Article contact: Kim Harp