How can an amendment be proposed and ratified according to Article V?

• A. Proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or a national convention; ratified by three-fourths of the states.
• B. Proposed by the president; ratified by a simple majority of states.
• C. Proposed by the Supreme Court; ratified by the president.
• D. Proposed by a national referendum; ratified by the states by unanimity.

Answer: (A)

Amendments to the Constitution are made through a two-stage process: proposal and ratification, as described in Article V. To propose an amendment, it must be either two-thirds of both houses of Congress, or a national convention called by two-thirds of the states. To ratify, the proposed amendment must be approved by three-fourths of the states, either through their legislatures or through state ratifying conventions. This is why the described path—the proposal by two-thirds of both houses or a national convention, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states—is the valid route. The other options don’t fit because the president does not have a proposing or ratifying role in this process, a simple majority of states is not sufficient for ratification, there is no national referendum mechanism, and unanimity is not required.