How are amendments made to the Constitution?

Today we will learn about the amendment process and what it takes to change the Constitution of the United States.  

The constitution begins with the Preamble.

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The Constitution

Watch this 3-year-old recite the preamble

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To be able to understand the amendment process to the Constitution, you first need to understand the word amendment.

What is an amendment?

To change by formal procedure

amendment

What if the law needs changed? Simple.

The lawmakers can propose a change or amendment. What is not so simple is convincing enough people that it needs to change.

More than 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 of those new amendments passed.

Want to change a law?

So how can a new amendment get passed?

One Step at a Time

Step 1

� A congressman or woman must suggest that a new amendment needs to be passed. People they represent make the request and they pass along the request.�

Step 2

Two thirds of the U.S. House of Representatives and two thirds

of the U.S. Senate (congress) must pass the amendment.�

House of Representatives

Senate

Step 3

�The legislatures of ¾ of the states must ratify (approve) the new amendment.

The Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They

were approved at the same time. Only 17 new amendments have passed since the Bill of Rights was approved in 1791.

amendment

st

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

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nd

The right to bear arms.

amendment

rd

The right to refuse your home to soldiers.

amendment

th

Protects citizens from unreasonable search.

amendment

Innocent until proven guilty, right to remain silent

th

amendment

th

Right to a fair and speedy trial

amendment

th

Right to a jury by trial

amendment

th

Protects citizens from cruel punishment for crimes

amendment

th

Citizens have rights that are not listed

amendment

th

The federal government only has the powers listed in the Constitution

amendment