How Does the Amendment Become Part of the Constitution?
This flowchart show is an overview of how the Amendment advances from first step to ratification:
Amendment advances are explained in a straightforward flowchart consisting of processing steps or activities (rectangular), decisions (diamonds), terminations (rounded rectangles), and arrows (flow lines).
It shows three basic paths:
- The best path is to combine the Constitutional Authority of the States with that of the People by use of State Referendums.
- A satisfactory and probably easier and faster path is to use State Initiatives to ensure State cooperation, followed by a Limited Article V Convention of the States.
- The Amendment process fails if less than 34 States apply to Congress or if less than 38 States ratify.
