NC: The Amendment Process

What is an amendment?

• a change to the constitution

• a suggestion to change the constitution

• to make something official

• another word for a law

How does the amendment process reflect the principle of federalism?

• It involves only the federal government.

• It requires cooperation between the federal and state governments.

• It allows states to independently amend the Constitution.

• It excludes state governments from the process.

Describe the sequence of steps required to propose and ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

• Proposal by Congress, ratification by the President

• Proposal by Congress, ratification by state legislatures

• Proposal by the Supreme Court, ratification by Congress

• Proposal by state legislatures, ratification by the President

Explain why the difficulty of amending the U.S. Constitution is significant.

• It prevents frequent and hasty changes to the Constitution.

• It allows for quick adaptation to new situations.

• It makes the Constitution irrelevant over time.

• It gives more power to the federal government.

Which article of the U.S. Constitution outlines the amendment process?

• Article I

• Article III

• Article V

• Article VII

The Constitution is basically the rulebook that the U.S. _____ must follow.

• government

• military

• citizens

• people

How many amendments have there been to the Constitution?

• 10

• 27

• None

• 19

What fraction of the House of Representatives and Senate must pass a proposed amendment before it goes to the state legislatures for ratification?

• 2/3

• 3/4

• 1/2

• 1/4

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

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

• Proposal and Voting

• Introduction and Voting

• Proposal and Ratification

• Introduction and Ratification