Final answer:
Changes to state government requiring an expansion of authority usually mandate the approval of either a two-thirds or three-fourths majority from various legislative bodies and sometimes also require ratification by voters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Any change to state government that requires an expansion of state authority often needs the approval of various entities within the political system. For example, amendments to the U.S. Constitution require a two-step process involving both the national and state governments:
- To propose an amendment, two-thirds of both chambers of Congress must agree, or two-thirds of state legislatures must call a national convention.
- To ratify an amendment, three-fourths of the state legislatures must agree to adopt it.
Supermajority voting rules, sometimes requiring from three-fifths to three-quarters agreement, are often applied to these important changes. It's also typical for such expansions of authority to be subjected to ratification by voters, either directly or through their legislative representatives.