<P> When the 1st Congress considered a series of constitutional amendments , it was suggested that the two houses first adopt a resolution indicating that they deemed amendments necessary . This procedure was not used . Instead , both the House and the Senate proceeded directly to consideration of a joint resolution , thereby implying that both bodies deemed amendments to be necessary . Also , when initially proposed by James Madison , the amendments were designed to be interwoven into the relevant sections of the original document . Instead , they were approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification as supplemental additions ( codicils ) appended to it . Both these precedents have been followed ever since . </P>
<P> When the 1st Congress considered a series of constitutional amendments , it was suggested that the two houses first adopt a resolution indicating that they deemed amendments necessary . This procedure was not used . Instead , both the House and the Senate proceeded directly to consideration of a joint resolution , thereby implying that both bodies deemed amendments to be necessary . Also , when initially proposed by James Madison , the amendments were designed to be interwoven into the relevant sections of the original document . Instead , they were approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification as supplemental additions ( codicils ) appended to it . Both these precedents have been followed ever since . </P>
to propose an amendment to the u.s. constitution congress would have to pass a
to propose an amendment to the u.s. constitution congress would have to pass a
a joint resolution
a joint resolution