ss.8.CG.3.5 Amending the Constitution (Assessment #s)

This excerpt is from Article V of the U.S. Constitution. 

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, … when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states. 

Based on this excerpt, which of the following is a part of the constitutional amendment process?

• the signature of the chief executive

• passage by the legislative branch

• agreement of the judicial branch

• a national vote 

Answer explanation

The U.S. Congress votes to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. 

Conventions of the state legislatures may also propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

A is Incorrect- The executive does not play a role in amending the U.S. Constitution.

C is Incorrect- The judiciary does not play a role in amending the U.S. Constitution.

D is Incorrect- Individual voters do not play a direct role in amending the U.S. Constitution. Their elected representatives vote on their behalf.

Which part of government may vote on constitutional amendments?

• bureaucracy 

• executive 

• judicial 

• legislative 

Answer explanation

The U.S. Congress votes to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution while the state legislatures vote on ratifying amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Conventions of the state legislatures may also propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

A is Incorrect- The bureaucracy does not play a role in amending the U.S. Constitution.

B is Incorrect- The executive does not play a role in amending the U.S. Constitution.

C is Incorrect- The judiciary does not play a role in amending the U.S. Constitution.

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.

Answer explanation

Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two methods for proposing and two methods for ratifying amendments. One way to ratify a constitutional amendment is through state legislature vote. If three-fourths of the state legislatures vote yes, the amendment is ratified (approved).

A is Incorrect- The voters do not directly ratify constitutional amendments.

B is Incorrect- The president does not play a role in ratifying constitutional amendments.

D is Incorrect- Congress may propose constitutional amendments but they do not play a role in the ratification process.

This diagram shows the two ways that an amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified.

Which statement completes this diagram?

• Three-fourths of state 

  legislatures vote to ratify the amendment.

• The president issues an executive order and ratifies the amendment.

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

• The Supreme Court rules the amendment is 

  constitutional and ratifies the amendment.

Answer explanation

Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two methods for proposing and two methods for ratifying amendments. One way to ratify a constitutional amendment is through state legislature vote. If three-fourths of the state legislatures vote yes, the amendment is ratified.

B is Incorrect- The president does not play a role in proposing or ratifying constitutional amendments.

C is Incorrect- Congress may propose constitutional amendments but they do not play a role in the ratification process.

D is Incorrect- The U.S. Supreme Court does not play a role in the constitutional amendment process.

This newspaper headline describes an event in U.S. history.

 

Based on this headline, what happened before the event presented?

• 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.

Answer explanation

Congress may propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution with at least two-thirds support of each house of Congress.

B is Incorrect- Presidents do not play a role in proposing or ratifying amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

C is Incorrect- 2/3, not 3/4, are required to propose an amendment.

D is Incorrect- Presidents do not play a role in proposing or ratifying amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

This timeline provides details about a constitutional amendment. 

According to this timeline, what happened between 1919 and 1933?

• The 21st Amendment was overturned by the U.S. 

  Supreme Court.

• The 21st Amendment was approved by state 

  conventions.

• The 21st Amendment was vetoed by the president.

• The 21st Amendment was vetoed by Congress.

Answer explanation

Article V of the U.S. Constitution gives state ratifying conventions the power to ratify proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution, provided that at least three-fourths of the state ratifying conventions approve of the proposed amendment. Amendments to the U.S. 

Constitution may only be reversed or overturned by another constitutional amendment.

A is Incorrect- The U.S. Supreme Court plays no role in amending the U.S. Constitution.

C is Incorrect- The president plays no role in the constitutional amendment process.

D is Incorrect- Congress does not have veto power.

Between 1870 and 1913, one amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution.

Based on this information, what can be inferred about the constitutional amendment process?

• Amending the U.S. 

  Constitution is a relatively time-consuming and 

  difficult process that does not allow changes to 

  happen easily.

• Amending the U.S. 

  Constitution is a relatively quick and simple process that allows change to 

  happen easily.

• Amending the Constitution requires unanimous 

  consent.

• Amending the Constitution has rarely been tried.

Answer explanation

The amendment process is a slow and deliberate process and that takes a significant amount of time. Adding an amendment to the Constitution requires approval from two-thirds of each house of Congress and 3/4th of the state legislatures to ratify. Because this is a 

time-consuming process, amendments are not added to the U.S. Constitution on a regular or frequent basis.

B is Incorrect – The amendment process is a slow and deliberate process that often takes a significant amount of time. Adding an 

amendment to the Constitution requires approval from two-thirds of each house of Congress and three-fourths of the state legislatures to ratify.

C is Incorrect – The amendment process is a slow and deliberate process and that takes a significant amount of time. Adding an amendment to the Constitution requires approval from two-thirds of each house of Congress and 3/4th of the state legislatures to ratify, but not unanimity.

D is Incorrect – Amendments have been offered a number of times; they are just rarely ratified.

This passage 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 this passage, which action in the modern political system would Elizabeth Cady Stanton support?

• amending the U.S. 

  Constitution to extend 

  suffrage

• 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

Answer explanation

Extending the right to vote to women would give women the opportunity to be heard in government through voting and serving in public office.

B is Incorrect- Due process rights are those rights that protect those persons accused of crimes.

C is Incorrect- Laws limiting freedom of speech are not the focus of the passage.

D is Incorrect- Laws limiting freedom of association rights are not the focus of the passage.

This table contains data regarding amendments to the U.S. Constitution. 

Based on the information in this table, which conclusion can be drawn about

the Framers’ intent with the amendment process?

• The process should be difficult to ensure

  widespread agreement on the change.

• The process should

  allow for frequent

  changes based on

  public opinion.

• The process should be the responsibility of one level of

  government.

• The process should be solely up to the

  political party in power.

Answer explanation

The Framers of the Constitution wanted the amendment process to be difficult to ensure that the Constitution was not changed simply because a specific group or interest held power

B is Incorrect- The Framers of the Constitution created an amendment process that required a widespread agreement across the political spectrum to make any changes. Obtaining that consensus often proves difficult which was intentional for stability.

C is Incorrect- The Framers of the Constitution created an amendment process to include both the national government (Congress) and state governments to ensure there was widespread agreement on the proposed change.

D is Incorrect- The Framers of the Constitution created an amendment process that requires a two-thirds majority in Congress to ensure there was widespread agreement on the proposed change.