<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Thirty - three amendments to the United States Constitution have been proposed by the United States Congress and sent to the states for ratification since the Constitution was put into operation on March 4, 1789 . Twenty - seven of these, having been ratified by the requisite number of states, are part of the Constitution . The first ten amendments were adopted and ratified simultaneously and are known collectively as the Bill of Rights . Six amendments adopted by Congress and sent to the states have not been ratified by the required number of states . Four of these amendments are still technically open and pending, one is closed and has failed by its own terms, and one is closed and has failed by the terms of the resolution proposing it . </P> <P> Article Five of the United States Constitution detailed the two - step process for amending the nation's frame of government . Amendments must be properly Proposed and Ratified before becoming operative . This process was designed to strike a balance between the excesses of constant change and inflexibility . </P> <Dl> <Dd> An amendment may be proposed and sent to the states for ratification by either: <Ul> <Li> The United States Congress, whenever a two - thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives deem it necessary; </Li> </Ul> <Dl> <Dd> OR </Dd> </Dl> <Ul> <Li> A national convention, called by Congress for this purpose, on the application of the legislatures of two - thirds (currently 34) of the states . </Li> </Ul> </Dd> <Dd> To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by either (as determined by Congress): <Ul> <Li> The legislatures of three - fourths (currently 38) of the states, within the stipulated time period--if any; </Li> </Ul> <Dl> <Dd> OR </Dd> </Dl> <Ul> <Li> State ratifying conventions in three - fourths (currently 38) of the states, within the stipulated time period--if any . </Li> </Ul> </Dd> <Dd> Upon being properly ratified, an amendment becomes an operative addition to the Constitution . </Dd> </Dl>

The amendment process was included in the constitution in order to