A constitutional amendment can be initiated by the Legislature if it passes both houses by a two-thirds vote. A constitutional amendment does not need the Governor's signature, but becomes part of the constitution only if the electorate approves it at the next general election.
A constitutional amendment can be initiated by the Legislature if it passes both houses by a two-thirds vote. A constitutional amendment does not need the Governor's signature, but becomes part of the constitution only if the electorate approves it at the next general election.
The legislature, by two-thirds vote, may propose amendments or revisions for voter approval. And the legislature may, by two-thirds vote, ask voters to convene a constitutional convention to rewrite the constitution. Any constitution adopted at the convention must still be approved by a majority of voters.
The most common method for proposing amendments involves Congress, where both the House of Representatives and the Senate must pass a proposed amendment with a two-thirds majority.
Since 1879, there have been numerous failed attempts to call a third constitutional convention. Instead, California has employed revision commissions and (more frequently) ballot initiatives to propose amendments to its constitution for voter approval.
Congress may submit a proposed constitutional amendment to the states, if the proposed amendment language is approved by a two-thirds vote of both houses. Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments upon application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (i.e., 34 of 50 states).
To propose amendments, two-thirds of both houses of Congress can vote to propose an amendment, or two-thirds of the state legislatures can ask Congress to call a national convention to propose amendments.
An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification.
That is because an amendment by voter initiative is allowed, but a revision is not. A revision can only be made through a constitutional convention or by a ballot measure placed by the Legislature. A convention also requires action by the Legislature. This is pursuant to Article 18 of the California Constitution.
A constitutional amendment can be initiated by the Legislature if it passes both houses by a two-thirds vote. A constitutional amendment does not need the Governor's signature, but becomes part of the constitution only if the electorate approves it at the next general election.