Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require the concurrence of two-thirds of both Houses of Congress for the admission of new States into the Union.
Summary
This document is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds concurrence of both houses of Congress for the admission of new states into the Union. Currently, the Constitution only requires a simple majority vote in both houses for admitting new states. The proposed amendment also includes a seven-year ratification deadline for state legislatures to approve the amendment.
Expected Effects
If ratified, this amendment would make it more difficult to admit new states into the Union, as it would require a supermajority in Congress rather than a simple majority. This could potentially impact the balance of power in the Senate and House of Representatives. It could also affect the representation of different political ideologies within the federal government.
Potential Benefits
- Could ensure broader consensus before admitting new states.
- May protect the interests of existing states by requiring a higher threshold for new state admissions.
- Potentially prevents the admission of states based on narrow political interests.
- Could lead to more thorough consideration of the long-term implications of admitting new states.
- May foster greater stability in the Union by ensuring widespread support for new members.
Potential Disadvantages
- Could make it more difficult for territories to become states, potentially disenfranchising their residents.
- May create political gridlock and prevent the admission of new states even when a majority supports it.
- Potentially gives a minority of Congress the power to block the will of the majority regarding statehood.
- Could exacerbate existing political divisions and make compromise more difficult.
- May be seen as an attempt to manipulate the balance of power in Congress.
Constitutional Alignment
Article IV, Section 3 of the US Constitution grants Congress the power to admit new states. This proposed amendment seeks to alter the process by requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses, which is a constitutional mechanism for amending the Constitution as outlined in Article V. The amendment process itself is constitutionally sound.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).