What is the process for proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution?

The process for proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution is indeed outlined in the second article of the Constitution itself. According to this process, an amendment can be proposed either by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or it can be initiated by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. This first part of the process establishes a significant consensus among the federal legislative body.

Following the proposal, ratification is required. The Constitution mandates that an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states. This high threshold for both proposing and ratifying amendments underscores the difficulty of changing the Constitution, ensuring that any alterations reflect a broad and deep consensus across both the federal and state levels.

This robust mechanism is designed to maintain the stability and integrity of the nation’s founding document while still allowing for necessary adaptations over time. The other options mention processes that do not align with the constitutional requirements, such as simply a majority vote in either chamber of Congress or a national referendum, both of which lack the comprehensive consensus needed for such an important constitutional change.