What is required for a constitutional amendment to be ratified?

For a constitutional amendment to be ratified, it requires approval by three-fourths of the states. This means that out of the 50 states, at least 38 must agree to the amendment for it to be officially adopted into the Constitution. This high threshold ensures that any changes to the foundational legal document of the country have widespread support and are not made lightly.

The process begins with the proposal of an amendment, which can either be initiated by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress or by a convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. However, once proposed, it's the ratification process that necessitates that significant majority from the states, emphasizing the importance of consensus and preventing hasty or populist changes to the Constitution.

Other options do not reflect the constitutional requirements—presidential approval is not necessary for ratification, as the President does not have a formal role in the amendment process. A public referendum in all 50 states is also not a requirement; while some states may choose to hold referendums on constitutional amendments, this is not mandated by the Constitution itself, further solidifying the requirement of state legislature ratification based on the established criteria.