Final answer:
The amendment process requires a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers of Congress to propose amendments and a three-fourths majority of state legislatures to ratify them. This intensive process underlines the importance and lasting impact of such changes to the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Constitution Amendment Process:
For an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to be proposed, a two-thirds supermajority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is required. This joint resolution does not need the president's signature and is sent directly to the state legislatures for ratification. To ratify an amendment, it must then be approved by a three-fourths majority of the state legislatures. The amendment process is intentionally difficult to ensure only amendments with broad support become part of the Constitution, reflecting the significant nature of such changes.
Importance of Supermajority:
Supermajority rules are significant because they require more than a simple majority to pass legislation, particularly for actions like amending the Constitution that are very important and have lasting consequences. The difficulty of the process, requiring agreement from various levels of government and a larger consensus, demonstrates the framers' intention to make constitutional changes a deliberate and considered action.