Which governing body is primarily responsible for proposing amendments to the Constitution?

The correct answer is that both houses of Congress are primarily responsible for proposing amendments to the Constitution. This process is outlined in Article V of the Constitution, which states that an amendment may be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a national convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures.

This shared responsibility underscores the principle of checks and balances fundamental to the U.S. system of government, ensuring that no single body has unilateral control over constitutional changes. The requirement for a two-thirds majority in both houses ensures that amendments have significant bipartisan support before becoming part of the Constitution.

In contrast, other governing bodies like the Senate or the House of Representatives alone do not have the authority to propose amendments on their own; it requires cooperation from both chambers. The Supreme Court, on the other hand, does not propose amendments but interprets the Constitution and can influence its application through judicial review.