Final answer:
A formal amendment is a change or addition to the written Constitution, which is true. The amendment process requires two-thirds of Congress to propose and three-fourths of state legislatures to ratify, reflecting the 27 amendments made so far.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formal amendments refer to changes or additions that become part of the written language of the United States Constitution, and this statement is indeed true. The amendment process is established in Article V of the Constitution and is a rigorous two-step process. To propose an amendment, two-thirds of both chambers of Congress must agree, or two-thirds of the state legislatures can call a convention. After a proposal, for an amendment to be adopted, it must garner the consent of three-fourths of the state legislatures. This process has resulted in 27 amendments to the Constitution throughout American history. On the other hand, informal amendments are changes that affect the interpretation of the Constitution without altering its written words.
Amending the Constitution is a significant and intentional act that requires broad support to effect changes to the document that guides the nation's governance, ensuring that the Constitution remains a living, adaptable document over the years. Yet, the 'supermajority' requirements for an amendment—a two-thirds congressional vote followed by ratification from three-fourths of the states—make amendments difficult to achieve, preserving the stability of the governing framework. Despite the elaborate process, the Constitution has been successfully amended 27 times, exhibiting its ability to evolve with the nation's needs while maintaining its foundational principles.