Article 5 - United States Constitution Interactive

ARTICLE 5: Amending the Constitution

What does it say?

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

What does it mean?

Article V specifies conditions for making changes to the Constitution. In contrast to the Articles of Confederation, which requires the unanimous vote of the states to make changes, the Constitution allows proposed changes with a 2/3 vote in the Senate and House of Representatives. New amendments to the Constitution require ratification by 3/4 of the states. Article V allowed for the creation of the Bill of Rights, which was central to the ultimate ratification of the Constitution.