The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
1. There are two ways that an amendment (change or addition) to the Constitution can be started:
a. Two thirds of both houses of Congress vote for the amendment.
Or:
b. The state legislatures of two thirds of the states call for a constitutional convention. That convention then suggests changes.
2. There are two ways an amendment can be accepted:
a. Three fourths of the state legislatures approve it.
Or:
b. Special conventions in three fourths of the state approve it. Congress decides which of these two ways will be used to approve any amendment.
3. The Constitution cannot be amended to take away a state's equal vote in the Senate unless state agrees.