Final answer:
The term 'amendment' refers to formal changes to the U.S. Constitution, ratified by Congress and state legislatures, while 'addenda' is typically additional material to a document. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights and were ratified in 1791.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Amendments and Addenda
The terms mentioned, addenda and amendments, refer to changes or additions to existing documents. In the context of the United States Constitution, an amendment is a formal change or addition proposed by Congress and ratified by the legislatures of the various states as per the fifth Article of the original Constitution. The first ten amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791, are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments were initially proposed via a joint resolution between the House of Representatives and the Senate. In contrast, an addendum is generally understood as additional material added to a document, though it is not commonly used in the specific context of the U.S. Constitution.
In summary, amendments are changes to the Constitution that must follow a specific procedure for ratification, while addenda are simply extra information or documentation added to a contract, agreement, or law. For the U.S. Constitution, the term 'amendment' is more relevant.