The Constitution defines the fundamental law of the U.S. federal government, setting forth the three principal branches of the federal government and outlining their jurisdictions. It has become the landmark legal document of the Western world, and is the oldest written national constitution currently in effect. The Constitution has been amended 27 times, most recently in 1992, although there have been over 11,000 amendments proposed since 1789.
Article V of the Constitution provides two ways to propose amendments to the document. Amendments may be proposed either by the Congress, through a joint resolution passed by a two-thirds vote, or by a convention called by Congress in response to applications from two-thirds of the state legislatures.
Measures Proposed to Amend the Constitution
Proposed Amendments Not Ratified by the States(pdf)
citation: Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, CRS, 2002.
Discussion of Article V (pdf)
citation: Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, CRS, 2002.
Senate Related Clauses of the Constitution
Constitutional Qualifications for U.S. Senator
The Supreme Court is the highest tribunal in the United States for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution. As the final arbiter of the law, the Court is charged with ensuring equal justice under law and functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution.
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