Final answer:
To fix time to prevent an amendment refers to setting a definitive ratification period, like the seven-year limit set for most 20th-century amendments. The Twentieth Amendment solved 'lame-duck' periods, and other amendments have addressed different governance needs. Ratification periods ensure amendments stay relevant and reflective of current public consensus.
Step-by-step explanation:
To fix time to prevent an amendment is essentially to set a definitive period within which a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution must be ratified. Throughout history, beginning with the 18th Amendment, Congress has consistently set a period of seven years for the ratification of an amendment. This was enacted to ensure that an amendment remains relevant to the period in which it was proposed and to prevent indefinite periods of ratification like that of the 27th Amendment, which took over two centuries to be ratified.
The Twentieth Amendment, for instance, helped solve the issue of 'lame-duck' sessions by reducing the time between the election of new officials and their inauguration. Similarly, amendments such as the Twenty-First repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, and the Twenty-Second set term limits for the presidency, all reflecting evolving needs and urgency in governance.
Article V of the Constitution allows for the proposal and ratification of amendments, stating the need for a two-thirds majority in Congress and a three-fourths ratification by the states, with the implicit understanding that ratification must occur within a 'reasonable time.' Therefore, by setting a standard seven-year time limit on ratification, Congress strikes a balance between giving states ample time to deliberate and ensuring that amendments do not lose their contemporaneous relevance.