The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of our country. It is the basis of all laws, liberties, and rights that apply to citizens living in the United States. This document outlines the functions of the government, the relationship between the states, and the rights bestowed to individuals. It is the oldest written Constitution still in use by a nation and has been amended 27 times in our nation’s history.
A constitutional amendment, therefore, refers to the process by which the U.S. Constitution can be altered. Amendments are proposed by two-thirds of each chamber of Congress, or by two-thirds of the state legislatures, then ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or conventions in the states. Amendments may also be proposed to the states and ratified by three-fourths of the states.
Once a proposed amendment is ratified by three-fourths of the states, it becomes part of the Constitution. Since 1789, all Constitutional amendments have been approved by state conventions, apart from the Twenty-first Amendment, which was adopted following state legislative action.
Modern Examples of Constitutional Amendments
The most recent amendment to be ratified was the Twenty-seventh Amendment in 1992. This amendment prohibits Congress from increasing their salaries during their current term of office. Other amendments modified the voting age to 18 years of age with the Twenty-sixth Amendment in 1971, and prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcohol with the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919.
The First Amendment of the Constitution protects the freedom of religion, speech, press, and the right to assemble and petition. The Second Amendment, which was adopted in 1791, guarantees the right to bear arms. The Third Amendment, which prohibited the quartering of troops in private homes, has rarely been challenged in court.
The Constitution has also been amended to extend certain rights to previously disenfranchised groups. For example, the Thirteenth Amendment prohibited slavery, the Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed the right to vote regardless of race, and the Nineteenth Amendment provided women the right to vote.
Conclusion
Amending the Constitution is the only way to modify the rights and protections that it provides. This process has been used to expand freedoms, extend rights, and address issues of injustice. Every amendment to the Constitution represents a major breakthrough in establishing America as a nation that values individual rights and the rule of law.