Amendment Procedures
How constitutions are formally changed — from near-impossible amendments to flexible revision, and why amendment difficulty shapes constitutional evolution.
From Rigid to Flexible
Amendment procedures range from nearly impossible to relatively easy. The US Constitution is among the most rigid: amendments require two-thirds of both chambers of Congress plus ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures (38 out of 50). Only 27 amendments have been ratified in over 230 years. Germany's Basic Law requires a two-thirds vote in both the Bundestag and Bundesrat — easier than the US process but still demanding. Germany has amended its constitution over 60 times since 1949.
India's Constitution is far more flexible. Most provisions can be amended by a two-thirds vote of Parliament members present and voting, plus a simple majority of total membership. India has passed over 100 amendments since 1950. At the extreme, the UK's uncodified constitution can be changed by ordinary legislation — no special procedure is required.