[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40] [Ch. 34. Constitutional Amendments] [A. Introduction] [§ 2. Form of Action] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov] [Page 4] CHAPTER 34 Constitutional Amendments A. Introduction Sec. 2. Form of Action Proposals originating in the Congress for amendments to the Constitution are made in the form of joint resolutions, which have their several readings and, if passed by both Houses, are enrolled and signed by the presiding officers of the two Houses but are not presented to the President for approval.(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. House Rules and Manual Sec. 191 (2007). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The form of the resolving clause for such a joint resolution is as follows: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), This adheres to the form for the resolving clause for all joint resolutions(2) with the addition of the parenthetical phrase relating to the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds margin in each House for passage of such a joint resolution, which has been included in all joint resolutions proposing constitutional amendments that have been ratified.(3) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. See 1 USC Sec. 102. 3. See, e.g., H.J. Res. 27 of the 80th Congress, which became the 22d Amendment, the resolving clause of which is set out at 93 Cong. Rec. 863, 80th Cong. 1st Sess., Feb. 6, 1947; S.J. Res 39 of the 86th Congress, which became the 23d Amendment, the resolving clause of which is set out at 106 Cong. Rec. 1257, 86th Cong. 2d Sess., June 14, 1960; S.J. Res. 29 of the 87th Congress, which became the 24th Amendment, the resolving clause of which is set out at 108 Cong. Rec. 17655, 87th Cong. 2d Sess., Aug. 27, 1962; S.J. Res. 1 of the 89th Congress, which became the 25th Amendment, the resolving clause of which is set out at 111 Cong. Rec. 7969, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Apr. 13, 1965; and S.J. Res. 7 of the 92d Congress, which became the 26th Amendment, the resolving clause of which is set out at 111 Cong. Rec. 7570, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Mar. 23, 1971. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 5]]