Amending the Constitution

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

• 2/3

• 1/2

• 3/4

• 7/8

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.

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.

How many times has the Constitution been changed?

• 12,000.
• 33 times
• 27 times.
• 26 times.

The newspaper headline above describes an event in U.S. history.

Source: Anti-Saloon League Museum

Based on the headline, what happened before the event presented in the image?

• Two-thirds of each house of Congress voted to support the amendment.

• The president rejected the amendment after Congress voted to support it.

• Three-fourths of each house of Congress voted to support the amendment.

• The president forwarded the amendment to the states after Congress voted to support it.

Which government branch may vote on constitutional amendments?

• bureaucracy

• executive

• judicial

• legislative

The passage above was written by U.S. Senator Barack Obama in his 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope.

Based on the passage, which statement about the amendment process would Senator Obama support?

• The ratification process allows the president to reflect public views.

• The ratification process allows governors to reflect public views.

• The U.S. Constitution is difficult to amend.

• The U.S. Constitution is easy to amend.

Which is the last step in amending the U.S. Constitution?

• The voters approve the amendment in a national election.

• The president signs the amendment in a public ceremony.

• Three-fourths of the state legislatures ratify the amendment.

• Two-thirds of both houses of Congress ratify the amendment.

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

Which statement accurately reflects the Amendment process to the U.S. Constitution so far?

• All 50 states must approve the Amendment in their legislatures.

• The majority of the U.S. Congress must approve the amendment; state involvement isn’t necessary.

• The process starts in the U.S. Congress or a national covention and final approval rests with the states.

• The process starts in the State Legislature and final approval is given by the U.S. Congress.