Explain in a short detail the two ways the constitution can be amended and provide an example of why the constitution would need to be amended
The U.S. Constitution can be amended through two processes: the congressional proposal method and the state ratification method.
1. Congressional Proposal Method: An amendment can be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. After this proposal, it needs to be approved by three-fourths (or 38 out of 50) of the state legislatures within a certain timeframe. This method has been used for all 27 amendments to date.
2. State Ratification Method: Another way to amend the Constitution is through a constitutional convention. If two-thirds of the state legislatures request a constitutional convention, it is called, and any proposed amendments from this convention must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures within a specific timeframe. This method has never been used to amend the Constitution.
An example of why the Constitution might need to be amended could be the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Before this amendment, women's suffrage was not guaranteed, and it took a long fight for equal representation in the voting process. By amending the Constitution, the 19th Amendment helped ensure equal voting rights for women and promote gender equality.