Amendment Process

The passage below is from an 1848 speech by Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

"In the United States of America women [are] unrepresented in this government—our rights and interests wholly overlooked."

Based on the passage, which action in the modern political system would Elizabeth Cady Stanton support?

• amending the U.S. Constitution to extend suffrage (right to vote)

• amending the U.S. Constitution to guarantee due process

• Congress enacting a law limiting freedom of speech rights

• Congress enacting a law limiting freedom of association rights

Which of the following is necessary to propose a new amendment to the Constitution?

• approval by a popular vote held in every state
• approval by two thirds of the House and Senate
• approval by three quarters of the House and Senate
• approval by the legislatures in at least three fourths of the states

How many total amendments to the Constitution are there?

• 27
• 26
• 28
• 10

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 an amendment?

• a change to the constitution
• a suggestion to change the constitution
• to make something official
• a time where one gathers with one's family and drinks hot cocoa

What are the two steps to amending the U.S. Constitution?

• Proposal and Voting
• Introduction and Voting
• Proposal and Ratification
• Introduction and Voting

After a change to the constitution has been proposed by 2/3 of both Houses of Congress, what fraction of the state legislatures must ratify (approve) the amendment before it is added to the U.S. Constitution?

• 2/3

• 1/2

• 3/4

• 1/3

The President must sign and approve the amendment to the Constitution?

• Yes

• No

Why is it important to have a formal amendment process?

• The Founding Fathers wanted to make certain that there was a process for the Constitution to be a “living document” that could change with the times.

• To ensure that everyone follows the law.

Why is the process for amending the Constitution difficult?

• If the process were too simple, the Constitution could change far more often than it should. If the process were too hard, the Constitution would be stuck in 1787, when the Constitution was written.

• The process is not difficult. It is an easy process.