Can the Constitution ever be changed?
Asked by: Alfonso Schowalter | Last update: February 10, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (73 votes)
Yes, the U.S. Constitution can be changed through a formal amendment process outlined in Article V, which requires supermajorities in Congress and state legislatures, making it intentionally difficult but possible, as seen with 27 past amendments, though none have passed since 1992 due to increasing political hurdles.
Is it possible for the Constitution to be changed?
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). Amendments proposed by Congress or convention become valid only when ratified by the legislatures of, or conventions in, three-fourths of the states (i.e., 38 of 50 states).
How many times has the US Constitution been modified?
The U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times, with the first 10 amendments forming the Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, and the most recent being the 27th Amendment in 1992, which deals with congressional pay. Out of over 11,000 proposed changes, these 27 amendments successfully passed through the rigorous Article V amendment process, reflecting significant changes to American law and society over the centuries.
Can you change a Constitution?
You can change your constitution whenever your shareholders agree to the change in a 'resolution'. You must also change your constitution if: a change in the law means your constitution would be illegal. ordered to by the courts or a regulating authority (for example the Charity Commission) tells you to change it.
Has anyone ever changed the Constitution?
More than 11,000 amendments to the Constitution of the United States have been proposed, but only 27 have been ratified.
Why is the US Constitution so hard to amend? - Peter Paccone
Who has the power to change the Constitution?
Parliament alone is given the power to make changes to this framework under Article 368 [16]. Unlike ordinary laws,amendments to constitutional provisions require a special majority vote in Parliament.
How many times has the 25th amendment been invoked?
The 25th Amendment has been invoked six times in total, but only for filling vice-presidential vacancies (Section 2) and for temporary transfers of power during presidential medical procedures (Section 3); Section 4, which allows for involuntary removal of presidential power, has never been used. The instances include twice to fill vice-presidential vacancies (Agnew/Ford, Ford/Rockefeller) and four times for temporary disability (Reagan in 1985, Bush in 2002 and 2007, and Biden in 2021).
Which country has the most difficult Constitution to amend?
Ancient and virtually impervious to amendment, the United States Constitution has withstood all modern efforts to renovate its outdated architecture on elections, federalism, rights, and beyond.
Can a Constitution be overturned?
'Ordinary statutes may be impliedly repealed. Constitutional statutes may not.
Can the US Supreme Court overturn a constitutional amendment?
No amendment to the Constitution has ever been ruled unconstitutional by a court. Unlike the uncodified constitutions of many other countries, such as Israel and the United Kingdom, the codified US constitution sets high standards for amendments, but places few limits on the content of amendments.
Is God mentioned in the US Constitution?
No, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention God, Jesus, or Christianity; its framework is secular, focusing on governmental structure, though it mentions "religion" in the First Amendment to protect religious freedom and prohibit an established religion. The only divine reference is in the signing date, "in the Year of our Lord," a common phrase of the era, not a theological statement, notes TCU Magazine.
Can a president overturn an amendment?
But the president cannot repeal part of the Constitution by executive order. And Congress cannot repeal it by simply passing a new bill. Amending the Constitution would require a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, and also ratification by three-quarters of the states.
Which is the most amended Constitution in the world?
The Indian Constitution is the most amended national constitution in the world. The Constitution spells out governmental powers with so much detail that many matters addressed by statute in other democracies must be addressed via constitutional amendment in India.
Why is the US Constitution so hard to amend?
The amendment process is very difficult and time consuming: A proposed amendment must be passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states. The ERA Amendment did not pass the necessary majority of state legislatures in the 1980s.
What would a 28th amendment be?
There isn't one single "28th Amendment" yet; the term most often refers to the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which aims to guarantee legal equality regardless of sex, though its official publication and enforcement remain debated, with other proposals also being discussed, like gun control or economic rights. The ERA, first proposed in 1923, passed Congress in 1972 but faces hurdles, with advocates arguing it's validly ratified and should be published as the 28th Amendment, while others propose new amendments for issues like gun safety or housing.
Has a constitutional amendment ever been overturned?
Although an existing amendment has only been repealed once (when the 21st Amendment, ratified in 1933, repealed the 18th Amendment, which instituted Prohibition), efforts to end or expand presidential term limits continue, including as recently as 2025.
Who can overrule the Constitution?
When the Supreme Court rules on a constitutional issue, that judgment is virtually final; its decisions can be altered only by the rarely used procedure of constitutional amendment or by a new ruling of the Court. However, when the Court interprets a statute, new legislative action can be taken.
Is it illegal to change the Constitution?
Article V states that an amendment must either be proposed by 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 state legislatures.
Who has the power to end the Constitution?
368. Power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and Procedure therefor: (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may in exercise of its constituent power amend by way of addition, variation or repeal any provision of this Constitution in accordance with the procedure laid down in this article.
Which is the no. 1 Constitution in the world?
The Indian constitution is the world's longest for a sovereign nation. At its enactment, it had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules. At about 145,000 words, it is the second-longest active constitution—after the Constitution of Alabama—in the world.
Are people trying to change the Constitution?
Thousands of amendments have been proposed since the Constitution was drafted in 1787. Abortion,4 the electoral college,5 federal budget,6 and electoral term limits7 were among the most frequent topics for proposals introduced in Congress between 1971 and 2021.
Which country has the easiest Constitution?
Monaco has the shortest written constitution with just 3,814 words. USA constitution has 7,591 and our Constitution has a whopping 1,46,385 words. There's reason for needing these many words for the architects of our Constitution.
Which president did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?
Several U.S. Presidents did not use a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (used no book at his first swearing-in), and Lyndon B. Johnson (used a Catholic missal), with Calvin Coolidge also noting he didn't use one, adhering to Vermont tradition. The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, allowing for these variations, often signifying a belief in secularism or responding to unique circumstances.
Who can declare the President incompetent?
A president can be declared incompetent under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment, a process initiated by the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet (or another designated body) sending a written declaration to Congress, which then makes the final decision if the President contests it, requiring a two-thirds vote in both houses to remove them. This "involuntary" removal process has never been invoked, though Section 3 (voluntary transfer of power) has been used.
Has a president ever been fully removed from office?
No U.S. President has ever been fully removed from office through the impeachment process; three presidents—Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice)—were impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate, while Richard Nixon resigned before the full House vote, avoiding removal. Removal requires a majority vote in the House (impeachment) followed by a two-thirds vote for conviction in the Senate, a threshold never reached for a president.