What principle allows the Constitution to be amended?

The principle that allows the Constitution to be amended is ratification by three-fourths of the states. This process is outlined in Article V of the Constitution, which establishes a clear pathway for making changes to the foundational document. The framers recognized that the Constitution should be flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances, but also required a significant consensus to ensure stability and legitimacy.

By requiring three-fourths of the states to agree to an amendment, the process avoids rash changes and reflects a broad national consensus. This high threshold helps to balance the interests of both larger and smaller states and prevents a simple majority from dominating the amendment process. This rigorous requirement has led to relatively few amendments being made throughout American history, emphasizing the importance of careful consideration when altering the Constitution.

In contrast, other options such as unanimous consent of all states would make amendments nearly impossible, while merely a majority vote in Congress would risk hasty decisions without sufficient agreement from the states. Presidential approval is not a necessary step in the amendment process, highlighting the unique role of state legislatures or state conventions in ratifying amendments.