Amending the Constitution

Changes to wording of the Constitution come as a result of 

• the formal amendment process.
• executives actions.
• judicial review.
• senatorial courtesy.

An amendment can be proposed

• by state legislatures.
• by any legal member of the electorate.
• by a joint resolution of Congress.
• at a national hotel convention.

How many states must approve of a proposed amendment before it becomes part of the Constitution?

• 2/3s
• 34
• 3/4
• 37.5

How was the 21st Amendment ratified?

• By popular vote
• By state legislatures
• By state ratifying conventions
• By signature of President Franklin Roosevelt

How does the formal amendment process reflect the concept of federalism?

• It grants the greatest amount of power to the national government.
• Power to change the Constitution requires both the national and state governments.
• The system for changing the Constitution recognizes popular sovereignty.
• Federal authority is supreme and, as such, has sole power to change the Constitution.

At which level of government can changes to the Constitution be proposed?

• local
• state
• national
• executive

Ratification of proposed amendments happens

• by popular vote.
• at the state level.
• with a 3/4 approval of both houses of Congress.
• at the national level with a majority vote in Congress and presidential approval.

What is a criticism of ratifying proposed amendments in state legislatures?

• Delegates to ratifying conventions better reflect popular sovereignty.
• State legislators must answer to a number of stakeholders, not just the "people."
• It gives too much power to states.
• The diversity of states makes them less able to make decisions for the good of the whole.

True or False. When ratifying a proposed amendment through state legislatures, states must ask the people to first vote on the issue.

• True. A referendum must be held to gauge the will of the electorate.
• False. There is no requirement to ask the public's opinion on the issue.

What is the one limit on the types of amendments that can be suggested? 

• The electoral college cannot be changed.
• No change can be made regarding the "republican" nature of state governments.
• No state may be deprived of its equal standing in the Senate.
• No new changes can be made to citizenship requirements.