What is the fate of most proposed amendments to the Constitution?

Most proposed amendments to the Constitution often never reach the ratification process. This is due to the rigorous requirements established in Article V of the Constitution, which outlines how amendments can be proposed and ratified. For an amendment to move forward, it must first be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures.

Despite being proposed, many amendments do not achieve the necessary support to progress to ratification, which requires approval from three-fourths of the state legislatures or conventions in the states. Historically, only a small fraction of proposed amendments have been successfully ratified, highlighting the stringent nature of the process and the political and social challenges faced in garnering widespread agreement.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the typical outcomes of proposed amendments; they may imply outcomes that are either unrealistic or misrepresent the challenges involved in constitutional amendments.