What is required for the U.S. Constitution to be amended?

The process for amending the U.S. Constitution is intentionally rigorous to ensure that changes reflect a significant consensus. To propose an amendment, a two-thirds majority is required in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This high threshold ensures that any amendment has substantial support from the elected representatives of the people.

After an amendment is proposed, it must then be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. This two-step process emphasizes the importance of broad agreement at both the federal and state levels before any changes can be made to the foundational document of the country.

This method was designed by the framers of the Constitution as a safeguard against hasty decisions, ensuring that amendments reflect the will of a significant portion of both the federal legislature and the states.