Bar Exam Practice Questions

An amendment to the Constitution requires ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. This process is established in Article V of the Constitution, which outlines the procedures for amending the document. The intention behind this high threshold for ratification emphasizes the need for broad consensus among the states, reflecting the importance of constitutional amendments and ensuring that they have substantial support beyond just a simple majority, whether within Congress or among the general populace. Other options suggest procedures that are not applicable. For instance, a simple majority in Congress is necessary for proposing an amendment, but it does not play a role in the ratification process. Presidential approval is not required for constitutional amendments, as the Framers designed the amendment process to be separate from the executive branch, ensuring that changes to the Constitution are not subject to presidential whims. Lastly, the idea of a national referendum does not align with the constitutional framework; amendments are ratified by state legislatures or conventions, not through direct votes by the citizens at a national level. Thus, the requirement of ratification by three-fourths of state governance bodies ensures a deliberate and measured approach to constitutional change.