1. SS.7.C.3.5 Explain the constitutional amendment process.
Making Amends
SS.7.C.3.5 Explain the constitutional amendment process.
Explaining the constitutional amendment process

2. Review: What is a constitution?
Provides a framework for government
Outlines responsibilities and powers
Limits government authority
Protects the rights of the people
Think of a constitution as a rule book for government.
Rule Book

3. What is an amendment?
Amendments are changes or additions to a document.
Why is having a formal amendment process important?
Have students discuss the amendment process question in small groups. Circulate throughout the room and prompt students to consider when our constitution was written, who it was written by, and why having procedures is important.
An amendment process was included in Article V of the U.S. Constitution so that, when needed, changes and additions could be made to the Constitution in the future.

4. Is it in the Constitution?
Give a thumbs up or thumbs down if you think each proposal passed or failed as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution!
Is it in the Constitution?

5. 1947: the income tax maximum for an individual should not exceed 25%;
Thumbs up or down?
1947: the income tax maximum for an individual should not exceed 25%;
The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. Copyright 2011

6. Is it in the Constitution?
1971: American citizens should have the alienable right to an environment free of pollution

7. Is it in the Constitution?
1876: The forbidding of religious leaders from occupying a governmental office or receiving federal funding

8. Is it in the Constitution?
1916: All acts of war should be put to a national vote. Anyone voting yes had to register as a volunteer for service in the United States Army

9. Is it in the Constitution?
1914: Finding divorce to be illegal

10. Did you know?
Approximately 10,000 amendments have been proposed in Congress since 1789.
The success rate of an amendment to become part of the U.S. Constitution is less than 1%.

11. Did you know? U.S. Constitution is the shortest
India has the longest written Constitution of any sovereign country in the world
444 Articles, 12 schedules, 94 amendments
U.S. Constitution is the shortest
7 Articles and 27 Amendments

12. Steps in The Amendment process

13. Two Part Process Article V
There are two parts to the constitutional amendment process. See Article 5 of the US Constitution.
Article V
Part One: Proposal Process
Part Two: Ratification Process

14. Proposing Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
2/3
Consent of 2/3 of both houses of Congress
Constitutional convention (never been used)
2/3 of the legislatures of the states call a convention
2/3
Emphasize the numbers needed to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution and how difficult it would be to come to a consensus on a proposed amendment. Amending the U.S. Constitution is a difficult process, but a formal process is important when making changes that impact the entire nation (including the structure of government, rights of the people, powers and responsibilities of government officials, etc.)
Amendments have many sources – individuals, special interest groups, caucuses*, Congress people, etc.
*A meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy. Example: Balanced Budget Amendment Caucus

15. Approving (Ratifying) Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Ratified by ¾ of state legislatures
Ratified by ¾ of constitutional conventions
3/4
3/4

16. Amending the U.S. Constitution
Proposal
Ratification
2/3
Congress
3/4
state legislatures OR OR
2/3
3/4
Constitutional
convention
Constitutional
convention

17. What would you add?
Each group will come to a consensus on their idea to amend the U.S. Constitution.
At least 2/3 of your group will need to agree on the topic.
Complete the Constitutional Amendment Proposal Form.
Outline your proposal on the piece of chart paper and post the proposal on the wall.
Divide students into groups of 5. Students will need to select a topic to propose in the form of an amendment. At least 3 out of 5 students will need to agree to the topic.
Make sure the students understand that an amendment to the U.S. Constitution will impact the entire country.

18. Time to Ratify…or not.
You will now get to vote on the proposals presented.
Things to consider:
Does it impact everyone in the country?
Does it support the common good?
Is there a financial impact?
Are there other ways this issue can be addressed?
Is the proposal fair?
Is it necessary and appropriate?
Provide a marker to each student. Have students rotate around the classroom and vote for the proposal(s) they feel would be good amendments, or additions, to the U.S. Constitution. Students may opt to not vote for any of the proposals. In order to pass, the proposal would need to receive ¾ of the class vote.

19. Did any proposals receive ¾ of the class vote?

20. Proposed Ideas for 28th Amendment
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."

21. Checking for Understanding
Which is the last step in amending the U.S. Constitution?
The voters approve the amendment in a national election.
The president signs the amendment in a public ceremony.
Three-fourths of the state legislatures ratify the amendment.
Two-thirds of both houses of Congress ratify the amendment.