Which statement correctly describes the process of using a constitutional convention to propose amendments?

Which statement correctly describes the process of using a constitutional convention to propose amendments?

• A. It requires the President to approve amendments directly.
• B. It involves the Supreme Court certifying the convention results.
• C. It is a meeting of the states' legislatures to approve amendments.
• D. Two-thirds of state legislatures must call for a constitutional convention to propose amendments.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how a constitutional convention is triggered to propose amendments. Under Article V, amendments can be proposed not just by Congress, but also by a convention called when a broad group of states asks for it. The triggering requirement is that a state legislatures from a sufficient number of states petition Congress to call such a convention. When that threshold—two-thirds of the states—has been reached, Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments. The convention’s purpose is to draft and propose amendments, which then move on to the states for ratification. The President does not approve amendments, and the Supreme Court does not certify convention results. So this statement correctly describes the mechanism that brings a constitutional convention into motion and its role in proposing amendments.

The key idea here is how a constitutional convention is triggered to propose amendments. Under Article V, amendments can be proposed not just by Congress, but also by a convention called when a broad group of states asks for it. The triggering requirement is that a state legislatures from a sufficient number of states petition Congress to call such a convention. When that threshold—two-thirds of the states—has been reached, Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments. The convention’s purpose is to draft and propose amendments, which then move on to the states for ratification. The President does not approve amendments, and the Supreme Court does not certify convention results. So this statement correctly describes the mechanism that brings a constitutional convention into motion and its role in proposing amendments.