Frequently Asked Questions about A Constitutional Amendment

FAQ About A Constitutional Amendment

You’re dreaming, it will never happen…

Au contraire!  Freedom of speech, abolishing slavery, women’s right to vote, and two-term limit on Presidencies are just a few of the 27 amendments to our constitution.  Americans have overturned bad Supreme Court decisions with a constitutional amendment 7 times.  We must do it again now!

There are two ways to amend the US Constitutional.  They are detailed in Article V of the US Constitution. 

First: Congress can pass an amendment to the US Constitution by a 2/3 majority and return that amendment to the states for ratification.   Passage by 3/4 of the states' legislatures are necessary to ratify the amendment.  When those two thresholds are met the Amendment is added to the US Constitution.  This method has been used for the 16 amendments that have been added to the constitution since the Bill of Rights.

Second: 2/3 of the states can call for an Article V Constitutional Convention.  Delegates from all 50 states would gather at the convention.  If an amendment results from that gathering it would be returned to states for ratification, where again, passage by 3/4 of the states' legislatures would be necessary for the amendment to be added to the US Constitution.  Five states have called for an Article V convention to overturn Citizens United. California is among them.  In June, 2016, Rhode Island became the 5th state legislature to formally issue the call for a convention to overturn Citizens United.

Alternatively: Some people argue that we just need to have a new Supreme Court to overturn the Citizens United v. F.E.C decision, but getting the right case that would really push back the damage done by the Supreme Court is not necessarily so easy.  Read why.  Don't leave such an important decision in the hands of Supreme Court justices who have failed us on this issue with increasing frequency in the past century.

What has often happened in our history is that as more states and more Americans call for a Constitutional Amendment, the US Congress is pressured to act.  


Two we like are:

Democracy for All Amendment (SJ Res 5/ HJ Res 22) See if your senators or representative signed on.

Provides Congress and the states with the authority to determine reasonable regulations on campaign financing and distinguish between natural persons and other artificial entities under campaign finance laws.  Key sponsors: Sens. Udall, Sanders/Reps. Deutch, Edwards, McGovern.

We The People  (HJ Res 48) See if your representative signed on.

Clarifies that only human beings, not legal entities like corporations, are entitled to the protections of the Constitution, and stating that political campaign spending is not protected by the first amendment.  Key Sponsors: Rep. Nolan, Rep. Jones




  • In September 2014, 54 senators voted FOR SJ Res 5 - The Democracy For All Amendment, but it was not a filibuster proof majority.
  • 17 states legislatures have called to overturn Citizens United


  • 5 states have called for a Article V Amendment Convention (IL, VT, CA, NJ, RI).


  • 2 states have directly voted to overturn Citizens United on a state ballot (MT & CO) and voters in Washington (I-735) and California (Prop 59) vote to overturn Citizens United in Nov 2016.


  • 700 cities or towns have called for a constitutional amendment
  • Over 80% of Americans support an amendment