What is an amendment?

An amendment refers specifically to a formal change or addition to the Constitution. This process allows for the Constitution to adapt and evolve over time, reflecting changes in societal values, norms, and issues that may not have been considered when the original document was drafted. In the context of the United States, amendments can be proposed either by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures.

Once proposed, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states to become part of the Constitution. This careful process underlines the significance and permanence of constitutional amendments, distinguishing them from ordinary laws, which can be passed and repealed more easily.

The other choices relate to different aspects of law and governance. A law passed by Congress is a legislative act that does not change the Constitution itself. A Supreme Court decision interprets laws or the Constitution but does not amend it. A state law change refers to alterations in state statutes, separate from the federal Constitution. Hence, the definition that aligns with amendments in this context is the formal change or addition to the Constitution.