Skip to main content

Proposing an Amendment

This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.

State

An amendment to the Constitution is proposed by a two-thirds vote of both chambers of Congress or by a convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures.

Show

All twenty-seven existing amendments were proposed by Congress; the convention route stands unused.

Watch for

Proposal is step one — nothing is law until ratification.