Indiana Social Studies USG.3.6
The Standard
Describe the procedures for amending the United States and Indiana Constitutions, and analyze why it is so difficult to amend these Constitutions.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies · Students understand the nature of citizenship, politics, and governments, understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens and how these are part of local, state, and national government. Students examine how the United States Constitution protects rights and provides the structure and functions of various levels of government. Students examine how the United States interacts with other nations as well as the government's role in world affairs will be examined.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students compare the steps for changing the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions. They track who proposes a change, who approves it, and where it can fail. They explain why each path requires broad support.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can show that a federal amendment needs a proposal from two-thirds of Congress or a convention requested by two-thirds of states, followed by ratification from three-fourths of states through legislatures or conventions. They can show that Indiana requires a majority in each chamber of two successive elected legislatures, then a majority of voters on the amendment. They can explain how any of these votes can stop a proposal.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the president signs federal amendments or that a national popular vote approves them. Some think Indiana needs only one legislative vote or a majority of all registered voters.
How to Assess It
- On an exit ticket, ask students to draw both amendment paths, label each required vote, and circle one point where each proposal could fail.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs step cards for both amendment paths; have them order the cards and mark each required vote.
Ask students to write two sentences explaining why an Indiana amendment might pass two legislatures but lose at the ballot box.
Give students sample vote tallies; have them decide which proposals advance and name the threshold each failed or met.
Show Indiana's 2018 balanced-budget ballot question; have students use an election summary to find the voter result.
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