What must occur for a proposed amendment to be sent to the states for ratification?

For a proposed amendment to be sent to the states for ratification, it requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress. This high threshold ensures that any amendment has substantial support within the federal legislature, reflecting a broad consensus rather than a simple majority, which might represent only a narrow viewpoint.

The framers of the Constitution designed this process to confirm that amendments to the foundational document would undergo rigorous scrutiny and approval, recognizing the significance of such changes. After gaining this required support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the amendment is then forwarded to the states, where ratification requires approval from three-fourths of state legislatures or conventions. This two-step process balances the influence of both federal and state governments in any changes to the Constitution.