Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of fiscal conservatives regarding the U.S. Constitution?
What is the primary goal of fiscal conservatives regarding the U.S. Constitution?
How many separate balanced-budget amendments have been introduced since 1999?
How many separate balanced-budget amendments have been introduced since 1999?
What requirement is necessary for an amendment to be ratified by the states?
What requirement is necessary for an amendment to be ratified by the states?
How many constitutional amendments have been sent to the states for ratification since the Constitutional Convention?
How many constitutional amendments have been sent to the states for ratification since the Constitutional Convention?
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When was the last time an amendment received the necessary two-thirds support in both the House and Senate?
When was the last time an amendment received the necessary two-thirds support in both the House and Senate?
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What was a significant obstacle for the balanced-budget amendment proposed in the mid-1990s?
What was a significant obstacle for the balanced-budget amendment proposed in the mid-1990s?
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What threshold needs to be reached for Congress to call a convention to propose amendments?
What threshold needs to be reached for Congress to call a convention to propose amendments?
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What amendment gained two-thirds support in both the House and Senate but was not ratified by the required number of states?
What amendment gained two-thirds support in both the House and Senate but was not ratified by the required number of states?
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Since 1999, how many proposed amendments have been voted on by the full House or Senate?
Since 1999, how many proposed amendments have been voted on by the full House or Senate?
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What was a significant factor that made achieving necessary supermajorities for amendments difficult?
What was a significant factor that made achieving necessary supermajorities for amendments difficult?
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How many proposed balanced-budget amendments since 1999 were primarily sponsored by Republicans?
How many proposed balanced-budget amendments since 1999 were primarily sponsored by Republicans?
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Which amendment proposal has been repeatedly introduced by Rep. José Serrano?
Which amendment proposal has been repeatedly introduced by Rep. José Serrano?
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What recent Supreme Court ruling influenced a surge in proposed amendments related to campaign finance?
What recent Supreme Court ruling influenced a surge in proposed amendments related to campaign finance?
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What significant change has occurred in the number of proposals related to same-sex marriage in recent years?
What significant change has occurred in the number of proposals related to same-sex marriage in recent years?
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In the context of proposed amendments, what does the term 'supermajority' refer to?
In the context of proposed amendments, what does the term 'supermajority' refer to?
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What was the most notable failed amendment in September 2014?
What was the most notable failed amendment in September 2014?
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Which type of amendment proposal had the most support from Democratic sponsors?
Which type of amendment proposal had the most support from Democratic sponsors?
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What prompted the introduction of two proposals in the current Congress regarding population apportionment?
What prompted the introduction of two proposals in the current Congress regarding population apportionment?
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Study Notes
Constitutional Amendment Proposals in the U.S. Congress
- A balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution is slated for a House vote this week.
- These proposals have consistently failed in the past, most recently in 2011.
- Since 1999, 134 balanced-budget amendments have been introduced in the House or Senate, making them the most frequently proposed amendments.
- The current Congress alone has 18 such proposals, among 64 total amendments.
Difficulty of Amending the Constitution
- Amending the U.S. Constitution is arduous, requiring a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-quarters of the states.
- Only 33 proposed amendments have been sent to the states, of which 27 were ratified, from roughly 12,000 proposals since the Constitutional Convention.
- Congress can call a convention to propose amendments if requested by two-thirds of the states; however, this has never happened.
- In contrast, India's constitution has been amended 101 times since its adoption nearly 69 years ago.
Frequency and Variety of Proposed Amendments
- Since 1999, approximately 747 proposed constitutional amendments, or about 75 per two-year term, have been introduced in Congress.
- These encompass various topics, including altering House terms, prohibiting the U.S. dollar's replacement, and more.
- The last instance of a proposed amendment gaining a two-thirds vote in both chambers was in 1978 (District of Columbia voting rights).
- Most proposed amendments don't progress beyond committee or subcommittee phases.
Analysis of Amendment Proposals
- Amendments often reflect political party affiliations.
- Examples: Most balanced-budget proposals since 1999 had Republican lead sponsors (114 out of 134).
- In relation to congressional term limits, 66 out of 69 proposed amendments were sponsored by Republicans. Democrats primarily sponsored proposals regarding campaign finance and contribution limits.
- Amendment proposals are often prompted by controversial court decisions or evolving social views.
- Example: A surge in campaign-finance-related proposals following the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling (2010), and a decrease in proposals to ban same-sex marriages as public opinion shifted.
- Example: Proposed amendments based on the Supreme Court's 2016 "one person, one vote" ruling and in response to the Citizens United ruling.
- Some members repeatedly present the same proposal.
- Example: Rep. Jose Serrano reintroduced resolutions to repeal presidential term limits.
Amendment Success Rates
- Despite numerous proposals, nearly all amendments die in Congress.
- Only 20 proposals were voted by the full House or Senate since 1999, with this week's vote marking the 21st instance.
- One example is the ban on flag desecration, which passed the House multiple times from 1999 to 2006 before failing in the Senate.
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Description
Explore the nuances of constitutional amendment proposals in the U.S. Congress. This quiz covers the frequency of amendments, the rigorous process required to amend the Constitution, and recent efforts, particularly focused on the balanced-budget amendment. Test your knowledge on this critical aspect of American governance.
