How are amendments to the U.S. Constitution made?

• A. By the President unilaterally
• B. By Congress and the States
• C. By the Supreme Court
• D. By popular referendum alone

Answer: (B)

Amendments are not created by the President, the Supreme Court, or by a simple nationwide vote. The Constitution sets a two-stage process: first, an amendment is proposed either by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or by a national convention called for by two-thirds of the states. Then, the proposed amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, either through their legislatures or through state ratifying conventions. This structure requires broad support across the federal and state levels before any change becomes part of the Constitution. The President has no formal role in proposing or ratifying amendments, and a popular referendum at the national level does not directly amend the Constitution.