Process for the Amendment of the US Constitution

Question

My question is related to the history of the ratification process for amendments to the US Constitution? Why was the Secretary of State designated the recipient of state-submitted amendment ratifications until 1950, when the Administrator of General Services assumed the role, then the NARA in 1985? The task seems unsuited as a responsibility of the Secretary of State.

Legislative Archives · Answer

Hi sherrelmock -- thanks for posting to History Hub! 
 The legislative history is laid out in a Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel slip opinion on the Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment -- see the footnotes on page 6. I've copied the relevant text below: 
 "From 1791 to 1951, the Secretary of State reported on the ratification of new amendments, a practice that Congress formally endorsed in 1818. See Act of April 20, 1818 , ch. 80 &sect; 2, 3 Stat. 439. The Administrator of General Services held the duty from 1951 to 1984. See Pub. L. No. 82-248 , ch. 655, sec. 2(b), &sect; 106b, 65 Stat. 710, 710 (1951). In 1984, the role was transferred to the Archivist. See Pub. L. No. 98-497 , &sect; 107(d), 98 Stat. 2280, 2291 (1984)." 
 For more information, see NARA's web page on the Constitutional Amendment Process and the section from Constitution Annotated on Authentication of an Amendment's Ratification . 
 Cheers! 
 Sarah

Process for the Amendment of the US Constitution

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