Identify which fact about the amendment process best supports this quotation from the textbook the formal amendment process emphasizes the federal
character of the government system.
a. amending the constitution is a complex process that usually takes years to accomplish
b. congress sends very few amendments on to the states for consideration
c. the chief executive has the ability to influence the amendment process but has no power to ratify amendments
d. the national and state governments must work together to propose and ratify a constitutional amendment
Thats a first Ms. Sue!
d. the national and state governments must work together to propose and ratify a constitutional amendment
The fact that best supports the quotation stating that "the formal amendment process emphasizes the federal character of the government system" is option d. The national and state governments must work together to propose and ratify a constitutional amendment.
To explain further, the amendment process outlined in the Constitution emphasizes the federal character of the government system by requiring both the national (federal) and state governments to collaborate. This means that in order for an amendment to be proposed, it must be approved either by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a national convention called by Congress upon the request of two-thirds (34 out of 50) of the states.
After the proposal stage, the amendment then needs to be ratified by either three-fourths (38 out of 50) of the state legislatures or by special state ratifying conventions held in three-fourths of the states. In both cases, the state governments play a vital role in the ratification process.
By requiring cooperation between the national and state governments, the formal amendment process highlights the federal nature of the United States government system, in which power is shared between the national and state levels. This process ensures that any proposed amendments reflect the interests and concerns of both the national and state governments, reinforcing the national government's commitment to maintaining a balanced federal system.