The Constitution contains within itself the process for changing it. The amendment process is described in Article 5. Amendments can be proposed in Congress when 2/3rd of both Houses agree. The states can play a role in proposing changes to the Constitution as well: 2/3rds of the state legislatures must call Conventions to propose amendments. Whether amendments are first proposed by the states or Congress, 3/4ths of the states must ratify (or approve) them before they become a part of the Constitution—the Supreme law of the land.
The Constitution, with its 27 amendments, has been amended only 17 times since the first 10—which make up the Bill of Rights—were ratified in 1791. [Bill of Rights Institute]
Bill of Rights
- Amendment I [Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition (1791)]
- Amendment II [Right to Bear Arms (1791)]
- Amendment III [Quartering of Troops (1791)]
- Amendment IV [Search and Seizure (1791)]
- Amendment V [Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Due Process (1791)]
- Amendment VI [Criminal Prosecutions - Jury Trial, Right to Confront and to Counsel (1791)]
- Amendment VII [Common Law Suits - Jury Trial (1791)]
- Amendment VIII [Excess Bail or Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment (1791)]
- Amendment IX [Non-Enumerated Rights (1791)]
- Amendment X [Rights Reserved to States or People (1791)]
Amendments 11 - 27
- Amendment XI [Suits Against a State (1795)]
- Amendment XII [Election of President and Vice-President (1804)]
- Amendment XIII [Abolition of Slavery (1865)]
- Amendment XIV [Privileges and Immunities, Due Process, Equal Protection, Apportionment of Representatives, Civil War Disqualification and Debt (1868)]
- Amendment XV [Rights Not to Be Denied on Account of Race (1870)]
- Amendment XVI [Income Tax (1913)]
- Amendment XVII [Election of Senators (1913)]
- Amendment XVIII [Prohibition (1919)]
- Amendment XIX [Women's Right to Vote (1920)]
- Amendment XX [Presidential Term and Succession (1933)]
- Amendment XXI [Repeal of Prohibition (1933)]
- Amendment XXII [Two Term Limit on President (1951)]
- Amendment XXIII [Presidential Vote in D.C. (1961)]
- Amendment XXIV [Poll Tax (1964)]
- Amendment XXV [Presidential Succession (1967)]
- Amendment XXVI [Right to Vote at Age 18 (1971)]
- Amendment XXVII [Compensation of Members of Congress (1992)]