Congress may submit a proposed constitutional amendment to the states, if the proposed amendment language is approved by a two-thirds vote of both houses. Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments upon application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (i.e., 34 of 50 states).
How much of each house in Congress must agree to ratify approve an amendment?
But in order for Congress to propose an amendment, two-thirds of each House of Congress must vote for it. And then three-quarters of the states must ratify the amendment before it is added to the Constitution.
What percentage of each house is needed to propose an amendment?
The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.
What does the 8th amendment prohibit?
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
What is the only limit on amendments?
What is the only limit on amendments? Shields the 1st clause of Article 1, Section 3 which provides for equal representation of the states.
What violates the 8th Amendment?
A prison guard's deliberate indifference to a prisoner's serious illness or injury would constitute cruel and unusual punishment which would violate the Eighth Amendment.
Why is the Eighth Amendment controversial?
The excessive fines clause is intended to limit fines imposed by state and federal governments on persons who have been convicted of a crime. The most controversial and most important part is the cruel and unusual punishment clause.
What is the most controversial amendment in America?
The most controversial and most important part is the cruel and unusual punishment clause . The Eighth Amendment
Can a president serve 3 terms?
Text. Section 1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.
What is the 25th amendment in simple terms?
The Twenty-fifth Amendment (Amendment XXV) to the United States Constitution says that if the President becomes unable to do his job, the Vice President becomes the President (Section 1) or Acting President (Sections 3 or 4).
When was the 8th Amendment been violated?
In Robinson v. California, 370 U.S. 660 ( 1962 ), the Court decided a California law authorizing a 90-day jail sentence for “be[ing] addicted to the use of narcotics” violated the Eighth Amendment, as narcotics addiction “is apparently an illness”, and California was attempting to punish people based on the state of this ...
Can you sue for cruel and unusual punishment?
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the infliction of “cruel and unusual punishments.” Virtually every state constitution also has its own prohibition against such penalties.
What falls under cruel and unusual punishment?
Punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment
Which Amendment is still controversial today?
Understanding the 2nd Amendment . The Second Amendment has been one that has been under much scrutiny and is the topic of controversy in recent years. Included in the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment protects the United States citizen's right to keep and bear arms.
Does capital punishment violate the 8th Amendment?
The Court has consistently ruled that capital punishment itself is not a violation of the Eighth Amendment , but that some applications of the death penalty are “cruel and unusual.” For example, the Court has ruled that execution of mentally retarded people is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual, as is the death ...
