Can the states propose an amendment to the Constitution?

wahoowa94

Technically, Yes. Article V of the US Constituion describes how amendments to the Constitution can be made. Amendments may be proposed by the United States Congress or by a national convention assembled at the request of the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the states. Here's a good passage explaining how it has happened in the past: "If at least two-thirds of the legislatures of the states so request, Congress is required to call a convention for the purpose of proposing an amendment. The state legislatures have, in times past, used their power to apply for a national convention in order to pressure Congress into proposing the desired amendment. For example, the movement to amend the Constitution to provide for the direct election of U.S. Senators began to see such proposals regularly pass the House of Representatives only to die in the Senate from the early 1890s onward. As time went by, more and more state legislatures adopted resolutions demanding that a convention be called, thus pressuring the Senate to finally relent and approve what later became the Seventeenth Amendment for fear that such a convention—if permitted to assemble—might stray to include issues above and beyond just the direct election of U.S. Senators." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Five_of_the_United_States_Constitution Mar 24 08, 3:49 PM

neelie_447

Technically, they can, although this has never happened. "The second method prescribed is for a Constitutional Convention to be called by two-thirds of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments. These amendments are then sent to the states to be approved by three-fourths of the legislatures or conventions. This route has never been taken, and there is discussion in political science circles about just how such a convention would be convened, and what kind of changes it would bring about." http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_can_propose_amendments_to_the_Constitution Mar 24 08, 3:49 PM