The National Archives and Records Administration (
Post# of 27046
The Governors then formally submit the amendment to their state legislatures or the state calls for a convention, as specified by Congress. Occasionally, one or more of the state legislatures will vote on proposed amendments before receiving official notification from the Archivist.
If the legislatures of three-fourths of the states (38 of 50) approve, or “ratify” the proposed amendment, it becomes part of the Constitution.
****Clearly this method of amending the Constitution can be a lengthy process, however, the U.S. Supreme Court has stated that ratification must be within "some reasonable time after the proposal."