American Government / Unit 1 Gov 040 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Ratifying an Amendment
Captions available
The idea
A proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution when ratified by three-fourths of the states, by legislature or by convention as Congress directs.
In practice
The Twenty-First Amendment, uniquely, was ratified by state conventions; the rest by state legislatures.
Where people slip
Three-fourths of fifty states means thirty-eight — one short and the amendment fails.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for American Government