What is the process for amending the Constitution?

• A. Proposal by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or by a national convention; ratification by three-fourths of the states.
• B. The President can unilaterally amend the Constitution by executive order.
• C. A majority vote in a national referendum alone amends the Constitution.
• D. State governors can amend the Constitution without federal involvement.

Answer: (A)

Amending the Constitution follows a two-stage path: proposal and ratification. To propose an amendment, two-thirds of both houses of Congress must agree, or a national convention can be called by two-thirds of the states to propose amendments. After a proposal is on the table, three-fourths of the states must ratify it for it to become part of the Constitution, either through state legislatures or through specially chosen ratifying conventions, as Congress directs for each amendment. The President has no formal role in proposing or ratifying amendments, and a national referendum or executive order cannot by itself amend the Constitution. State governors cannot amend it on their own either; broad, national-level support is required. This is why the described process is the correct one.