Amendment Process Quiz

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)

• Congress enacting a law limiting freedom of speech rights

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

• 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 three quarters of the House and Senate

• approval by two thirds of the House and Senate

• approval by the legislatures in at least three fourths of the states

How many total amendments in the U.S. Constitution are there?

• 24

• 25

• 26

• 27

Ratification (approval) of proposed amendments happens

• by popular vote

• at the state level

• at the national level with a majority vote in Congress and presidential approval.

• with a 3/4 approval of both houses of Congress.

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 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?

• 1/2

• 2/3

• 3/4

• 4/5

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

• yes

• no