How many votes in Congress are needed to propose an amendment?

To propose an amendment to the Constitution, a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress is required. This requirement underscores the framers' intention to ensure that amendments to the Constitution have significant support, reflecting a broad consensus among elected representatives.

A simple majority in Congress would not suffice because such a low threshold could lead to frequent and possibly unwise changes to the Constitution. Similarly, a three-quarters vote in the Senate misrepresents the requirement, as this is actually needed for the ratification of an amendment rather than its proposal. Finally, unanimous consent would be impractical and could hinder the amendment process entirely, as it would require total agreement among all members, which is rarely achievable in a diverse legislative body.