Final answer:
The amendment process of the U.S. Constitution requires a two-thirds supermajority vote in both the House and the Senate to propose an amendment. It does not require presidential approval but needs ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. This process has successfully amended the Constitution twenty-seven times.
Step-by-step explanation:
To propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a two-thirds supermajority vote is required in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This stage constitutes Step 1 of the process, also known as the proposing stage. Following approval by Congress, the proposed amendment does not need to be signed by the President. Instead, it is sent directly to the states for ratification.
Step 2 involves the ratification of the proposed amendment by the states, which requires approval by three-fourths of the state legislatures.
It is important to note that the Constitution also provides an alternative method where two-thirds of the state legislatures can call for a national convention to propose amendments, although this method has yet to be utilized. The final step, if required, would involve overcoming a presidential veto, which also necessitates a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
Amending the Constitution is a considerable process due to the level of consensus required, making it a rare occurrence in U.S. history, with only twenty-seven successful amendments over more than two centuries.