To propose a constitutional amendment, what fraction must be achieved in Congress?

To propose a constitutional amendment, what fraction must be achieved in Congress?

• A. 2/3 vote
• B. 1/2 vote
• C. 3/4 vote
• D. 1/3 vote

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how a change to the Constitution gets started. In Congress, proposing an amendment requires two-thirds of both the Senate and the House to vote in favor. This high bar is intentional: it makes sure that any proposed change has broad support across the country before it even goes to the states for ratification. After a proposal passes, three-fourths of the states must approve it to become law, but that is part of the ratification step, not the proposal step. So the fraction used to propose in Congress is two-thirds. A simple majority would let changes through too easily, and a one-third vote isn’t a recognized threshold for proposing.

The main idea is how a change to the Constitution gets started. In Congress, proposing an amendment requires two-thirds of both the Senate and the House to vote in favor. This high bar is intentional: it makes sure that any proposed change has broad support across the country before it even goes to the states for ratification. After a proposal passes, three-fourths of the states must approve it to become law, but that is part of the ratification step, not the proposal step. So the fraction used to propose in Congress is two-thirds. A simple majority would let changes through too easily, and a one-third vote isn’t a recognized threshold for proposing.