Question

Suppose there was a movement to change the Constitution to remove the president’s pardon powers. What steps would need to be taken to add a constitutional amendment to do so?

Answer 1

Under Article 5 of the US constitution, there are specific steps that need to be taken to amend the constitution. They include:

Step 1: Two-thirds of both houses of Congress pass a proposed constitutional amendment. This sends the proposed amendment to the states for ratification. o Step 2: Three-fourths of the states (38 states) ratify the proposed amendment, either by their legislatures or special ratifying conventions.

Or another path, Path 2

Step 1: Two-thirds of state legislatures (34 states) ask for Congress to call "a convention for proposing amendments." Step 2: States send delegates to this convention, where they can propose amendments to the Constitution. o Step 3: Three-fourths of the states (38 states) ratify an amendment approved by the "convention for proposing amendments," either by their legislatures or special ratifying conventions.