For a constitutional amendment to be ratified without Congress's unanimous consent, three-fourths of state legislatures or conventions must approve it, as outlined in Article V.
In the context of constitutional amendments, an amendment can be ratified without the need for Congress's unanimous consent from the states if three-fourths of the state legislatures or state conventions approve it. This process is outlined in Article V of the United States Constitution. The framers designed this method to strike a balance between federal and state powers.
The requirement of three-fourths approval ensures a significant level of consensus, emphasizing the gravity of amending the Constitution while avoiding the need for unanimous consent, which could be impractical and hinder the ability to adapt the Constitution to changing circumstances. This provision reflects the framers' intent to establish a flexible yet deliberate process for amending the Constitution, allowing for necessary changes while requiring broad support from the states.
Complete question:
In the context of constitutional amendments, what condition must be met for an amendment to be ratified without the need for Congress's unanimous consent from the states?