Final answer:
To call a national convention for proposing constitutional amendments, two-thirds of state legislatures must request Congress to do so, requiring at least thirty-four states. However, all proposed amendments would still need ratification by three-fourths of the states.
Step-by-step explanation:
Requirements for Calling a National Convention
To call a national convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, two-thirds of state legislatures must ask Congress to convene such a convention. This provision allows for a direct state-driven process to propose constitutional amendments, bypassing Congress should the need arise. To initiate this process, at least thirty-four states must submit applications to Congress for a national convention to be held.
While this path to amendment is available, it has never been utilized in U.S. history. Instead, all constitutional amendments thus far have been proposed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Notably, proponents of a national convention today often argue for amendments that address issues such as fiscal responsibility and balancing the federal budget to curb growing deficits.
Even if a convention were to be called and amendments proposed, they would still require the ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures or conventions in order to be adopted as part of the Constitution. This adds a significant hurdle in the amendment process, reflecting the framers' intentions to make constitutional changes a very deliberate and considered act.