How do you amend the Constitution?

How do you amend the Constitution?

• A. 2/3 of Congress propose, and 3/4 of states ratify the amendment
• B. A national referendum is required
• C. The President can issue an amendment by executive order
• D. State legislatures can veto amendments

Answer: (A)

Amending the Constitution requires broad, multi-step consensus. It starts with proposal by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then moves to ratification by three-fourths of the states. At ratification, states may choose to approve either through their legislatures or via special state conventions, depending on what Congress directs. This structure ensures any change has widespread support across the country, not just from a single office or a narrow group. The other options don’t fit because a national referendum isn’t how amendments are approved, the President cannot unilaterally amend the Constitution, and states don’t veto amendments—in practice they ratify them, and often there are two possible routes for that ratification.

Amending the Constitution requires broad, multi-step consensus. It starts with proposal by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then moves to ratification by three-fourths of the states. At ratification, states may choose to approve either through their legislatures or via special state conventions, depending on what Congress directs. This structure ensures any change has widespread support across the country, not just from a single office or a narrow group.

The other options don’t fit because a national referendum isn’t how amendments are approved, the President cannot unilaterally amend the Constitution, and states don’t veto amendments—in practice they ratify them, and often there are two possible routes for that ratification.