2.5: Constitutional Amendments Proposed by Initiative
Article V of the U.S. Constitution shall be, and hereby is, amended by adding a second clause consisting of the following two sentences: “The People shall have the power by Direct Initiatives to propose U.S. constitutional amendments to the States when passed by a double supermajority of the People’s vote. Upon certification of a passing vote, the proposed constitutional amendment shall be as if Congress had deemed it necessary, proposed it, defined the mode of ratification, and submitted it to the several States for ratification by their legislatures or by their People.”
Explanation of Constitutional Amendments Proposed by Initiative
The People's fundamental right to alter their government becomes more explicit by the power to propose constitutional amendments. This requires a revision of Article V, adding the People as a third proposal method, in addition to the Congress and the States. It is best introduced as a second clause rather than alter the first clause, which is already complex and upon which many judicial opinions rely. Proposal by this process will be a more severe test than the other two methods.