What is required for an amendment to be added to the Constitution?

For an amendment to be added to the Constitution, it is essential for it to be approved by a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Congress. This high threshold reflects the framers' intention to ensure that only significant changes to the foundational laws of the country can be made.

The process begins when either the House of Representatives or the Senate proposes an amendment, and then it must be approved by a two-thirds vote in both chambers. This requirement ensures that a broad consensus exists among the elected representatives before altering the Constitution, safeguarding against hasty or minor adjustments.

Once Congress fulfills this requirement, the proposed amendment then moves on to the ratification phase, where it must be accepted by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. This two-step process involving both federal and state levels further reinforces the idea that constitutional amendments require widespread support across the nation.