Constitutional Amendment

Constitutional Amendments: A Historical Overview

The Amendment Process

The United States Constitution has undergone numerous amendments since its inception in 1789. As of January 3, 2019, approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress.

A Constitutional Amendment: Defined

A constitutional amendment is a formal modification to the constitution of a nation or other governing entity. Amendments are typically proposed in response to changing societal norms, technological advancements, or other significant developments.

In the United States, an amendment to the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Once approved by Congress, the proposed amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Historical Amendments

The Constitution has been amended 27 times, beginning with the Bill of Rights, which established the first 10 amendments and was ratified in 1791. Subsequent amendments have addressed a wide range of issues, including voting rights, civil rights, the establishment of the income tax, and the abolition of slavery.

Twenty-five of the 27 constitutional amendments are currently in effect, while two have been repealed.