Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides 2 mechanisms for proposing and ratifying Amendments the Constitution, either initiated by Congress, or on the Application of the Legislators of States. It also stipulates 2 Modes of Ratification, either by State Legislatures or by State Conventions. Contrary to the [[Convention of States]]® model, Congress is not circumvented by a Convention for proposing Amendments - the State Legislatures must make application to Congress for Congress to call for a Convention for proposing Amendments, and Congress also proposes the Mode of Ratification, either by Legislators or by State Conventions. The wording of Article V may seem difficult to follow, but parsing it helps. --- *The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.* --- The Congress,  whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary,  shall propose Amendments to this Constitution,  or,  on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States,  shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments,  which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified  by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States,  or  by Conventions in three fourths thereof,  as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress;  Provided that  no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article;  and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. --- The _Congress_, **\[the U.S. Congress]** whenever _two thirds of both Houses_ shall deem it necessary, **\[66 US Senate, 290 US House of Representatives]** _shall propose Amendments_ to this Constitution, **\[Congress shall propose Amendments]** **_or_**,  on the _Application of the Legislatures_ of _two thirds of the several States_, **\[34 State Legislatures apply to US Congress]** _shall_ _call a Convention_ for proposing Amendments, **\[Congress shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments]** which, in either Case, _shall be valid_ to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, _when ratified_ **\[Amendments shall be valid when Ratified]** by the _Legislatures_ of _three fourths of the several States_, **\[by Legislatures of 38 States]** **_or_**  by _Conventions_ in _three fourths thereof_, **\[by Conventions in 38 States]** as the one or the other _Mode of Ratification_ may be _proposed by the Congress_; **\[by one of the above two Modes of Ratification proposed by US Congress]** **_Provided that_**  no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; **\[caveats prior to 1808, related to slavery]** >Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1: The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person. >Article 1, Section 9, Clause 4: No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. **\[assurance to small states that no Amendment deprives them of their equal voting in the US Senate without its consent]**