The Amendment Process

How to propose amendment

Proposed by Congress, needs 2/3 vote in each chamber to move on

How to ratify an amendment

Moved on to the states, ¾ of states (38 states) must approve

Article V

Explains amendment process

the 26th amendment

Vietnam era, lowers voting age to 18 after the demand, “old enough to fight, old enough to vote”

Current day obstacles w/ amendments

Political polarization, supermajorities, no 38 states will agree on the same thing

27th amendment

proposed by college student; prohibits congress from giving themselves a pay raise during their ongoing term

16th amendment

Originally, Supreme Court said idea of a federal income tax was “unconstitutional”, so congress made it constitutional by adding it as a amendment; very powerful example of check and balance

Equal Rights Amendment

Demanded equal rights for men & women, but never became reality due to expired deadlines, culture clashes, etc.