Citizenship: A Manual for Voters

by Emma Guy Cromwell

The Federal Constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote of each House of Congress, and if passed must be referred to the state legislatures for ratification.

The amendments to the Constitution of the United States do not become a part of the Constitution until ratified by three-fourths of the States, which is now thirty-six states—there being forty-eight states in the union.

There are now eighteen amendments to the Federal Constitution. The nineteenth amendment on "Suffrage" is still pending, needing only one more state to give universal suffrage to women.

An amendment to a constitution is simply changing some of its provisions, but a revision is a recasting of the whole constitution. Both require the consent of the voters of the State.

As we have said the revision usually takes place by means of a convention of delegates elected for that purpose by the people.

"One of the most important parts of every state constitution is the 'Bill of Rights,' which is a statement of the rights which must not be infringed on by the government."

In the revision of a state constitution the legislature submits to the people the question of calling a convention to frame a new constitution. If the voters are in favor of a convention they elect delegates to the convention to assist in revising the constitution. The revised constitution is nearly always submitted to the people to vote upon.

The amendment known as the eighteenth amendment passed during President Wilson's term of office and is one of great importance to our nation in the protection of the home and humanity. This amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, reads as follows:

"Sec. 1. After one year from the ratification of this article, the manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

"Sec. 2. The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."