Constitutional Amendments: A Brief Overview
Proposed and Ratified Amendments
Thirty-three amendments to the United States Constitution have been proposed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Twenty-seven of these amendments are currently active, including the first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights.
Notable Amendments
Among the most significant amendments are the 19th Amendment (1920), which extended voting rights to women, and the 15th Amendment (1870), which prohibited states from depriving citizens of the right to vote based on race.
Amendment Process
As per Article V of the Constitution, an amendment must be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. To become part of the Constitution, it must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
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