What is an amendment

amendment

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

amendment, in government and law, an addition or alteration made to a constitution, statute, or legislative bill or resolution. Amendments can be made to existing constitutions and statutes and are also commonly made to bills in the course of their passage through a legislature. Since amendments to a national constitution can fundamentally change a country’s political system or governing institutions, such amendments are usually submitted to an exactly prescribed procedure.

The best-known amendments are those that have been made to the U.S. Constitution; Article V makes provision for the amendment of that document. The first 10 amendments that were made to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. (See Rights, Bill of.) A total of 27 amendments have been made to the Constitution. For an amendment to be made, two-thirds of the members of each house of Congress must approve it, and three-fourths of the states must ratify it. Congress decides whether the ratification will be by state legislatures or by popularly elected conventions in the several states (though in only one instance, that of the Twenty-First Amendment, which repealed prohibition, was the convention system used). In many U.S. states, proposed amendments to a state constitution must be approved by the voters in a popular referendum.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.

Amendment

Michelle P. Scott is a New York attorney with extensive experience in tax, corporate, financial, and nonprofit law, and public policy. As General Counsel, private practitioner, and Congressional counsel, she has advised financial institutions, businesses, charities, individuals, and public officials, and written and lectured extensively.

Skylar Clarine is a fact-checker and expert in personal finance with a range of experience including veterinary technology and film studies.

What Is an Amendment?

An amendment is a change or addition to the terms of a contract, law, government regulatory filing, or other documents.

Key Takeaways

Understanding Amendments

A contractual amendment generally does not substantially alter or reverse the terms of the document it is attached to. If an agreement needs significant changes, a new contract rather than an amendment generally is drawn up. Any such document can be amended with the consent of the parties involved.

One of the most common types of amendment is a simple extension of the terms of a contract. An amendment might change a price or a deadline, correct a misstatement in the document, or address an unforeseen issue. The parts of the contract that are not amended remain in force. Amendments to documents filed with government regulators are common. For example, when a business changes its name or its ownership, an amendment must be filed with the appropriate government agencies.

Financial documents can be amended as well. Publicly traded companies must report their earnings results to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on a quarterly as well as annual basis. This report is available to all of the company’s stockholders and the general public. If a number is incorrect or a material factor is discovered, an amendment to the earnings report must be filed. In this case, the amendment is called a restatement of financials.

An amendment to SEC files can be more consequential than most. The SEC could penalize the company for misstating its earnings. The amended earnings could trigger a selloff by shareholders or even lead to a class-action lawsuit against the company.

Amendments allow laws and policies to be refined over time rather than replaced outright.

Local, state, and federal laws can be changed through the ratification of amendments. Legislative bodies in the U.S. operate on the premise that laws and policies may be refined over time. This can be done through new legislation or amendments to existing legislation.

Amendments may be introduced to address circumstances and events that were not foreseen when a piece of legislation was initially signed into law. The most familiar example of this process is, of course, the U.S. Constitution, which has been amended 27 times since it was ratified in 1788. The first 10 of those amendments constitute the Bill of Rights. Amendments are often added while proposed laws are being debated and before the final votes are taken.

Amendments frequently are used to address events that were unforeseen when the original document was created. For example, banking, commerce, and taxation laws and regulations were written long before the internet existed. Many of these laws and regulations had to be amended in order to facilitate (and regulate) online payment systems, electronic signatures, online stock transactions, and more.

amendment

1 amendment

2 amendment

3 amendment

4 amendment

5 amendment

to accept / to adopt an amendment — принимать поправку

to consider an amendment — обсуждать / рассматривать поправку

to declare an amendment admissible / receivable — объявлять поправку приемлемой

to incorporate an amendment in / to. — включать поправку в.

to insert an amendment in. — включать поправку в.

to oppose an amendment — возражать / выступать против поправки

to overturn an amendment — отклонять / отвергать поправку

to place / to present an amendment — представлять поправку на рассмотрение

to propose / to put forward an amendment — предлагать поправку

6 amendment

7 amendment

8 amendment

amendment by compulsion — внесение поправок в состязательную бумагу по распоряжению суда;

amendment on court’s own motion — внесение поправок в состязательную бумагу по инициативе суда;

amendment to conform to proof — внесение поправок в состязательную бумагу в соответствии с принятыми судом доказательствами;

to insert [to make] an amendment — внести поправку;

to move [to propose] an amendment — предложить поправку;

to reject an amendment — отклонить поправку;

9 amendment

10 amendment

11 amendment

12 amendment

13 amendment

поправка (к резолюции, законопроекту) ;
to move an amendment внести поправку (в резолюцию и т. п.)

of act юр. поправка к закону

of action изменение дела

of articles of association орг.бизн. поправка к уставу ассоциации

of legislation юр. поправка к законопроекту

on point of form редакционная поправка

to act юр. поправка к закону

to constitution юр. поправка к конституции

распоряжение о внесении поправки

поправка (к резолюции, законопроекту) ;
to move an amendment внести поправку (в резолюцию и т. п.) move an

14 amendment

COMBS:

15 amendment

16 amendment

17 amendment

18 amendment

19 amendment

20 amendment

to move / propose an amendment — внести поправку

См. также в других словарях:

amendment — amend·ment n 1: an act of amending; esp: an alteration in wording amendment s to cure the defect in the pleading 2: an alteration proposed or put into effect by legislative or constitutional procedure the Congress. shall propose amendment s to… … Law dictionary

Amendment 46 — is a proposed initiative on the Colorado ballot for 2008. If ratified, Article II of the Colorado Constitution would state: The State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race … Wikipedia

Amendment — may refer to:*A change made to a pending motion or bill by a motion to amend *A change made to a previously adopted law or motion *A change made to a contract *Constitutional amendment, a change made to a written constitution *Soil conditioner,… … Wikipedia

Amendment — [ə mendmənt, englisch »Berichtigung«] das, s/ s, Zusatz, ergänzender oder abändernder Artikel zur Verfassung der USA von 1787 (bisher 26 Amendments) sowie zu den Verfassungen der Einzelstaaten. Die Amendments werden chronologisch an den… … Universal-Lexikon

amendment — (n.) early 13c., betterment, improvement; c.1300, of persons, correction, reformation, from O.Fr. amendment, from amender (see AMEND (Cf. amend)). Sense expanded to include correction of error in a legal process (c.1600) and alteration of a writ… … Etymology dictionary

amendment — [n1] correction, improvement alteration, amelioration, betterment, change, correction, enhancement, improvement, mending, modification, rectification, reform, reformation, remedy, repair, revision; concept 700 Ant. worsening amendment [n2]… … New thesaurus

amendment — ► NOUN 1) a minor improvement. 2) (Amendment) an article added to the US Constitution … English terms dictionary

Amendment — A*mend ment, n. [F. amendement, LL. amendamentum.] 1. An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices. [1913 Webster] 2. In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

amendment — [ə mend′mənt] n. [ME < OFr amendement < amender, AMEND] 1. a change for the better; improvement 2. a correction of errors, faults, etc. 3. a) a revision or addition proposed or made in a bill, law, constitution, etc. b) the process of… … English World dictionary

amendment — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ important, major, significant ▪ A major amendment was introduced into the legislation. ▪ minor, slight, small ▪ … Collocations dictionary

amendment — A revision to a document. A UCC financing statement can be amended by filing a designated amendment form, usually UCC 3. American Banker Glossary * * * amend a‧mend [əˈmend] verb [transitive] to make small changes to a law or a document, for… … Financial and business terms

(amendment)

1 amendment

2 amendment

3 amendment

4 amendment

5 amendment

to accept / to adopt an amendment — принимать поправку

to consider an amendment — обсуждать / рассматривать поправку

to declare an amendment admissible / receivable — объявлять поправку приемлемой

to incorporate an amendment in / to. — включать поправку в.

to insert an amendment in. — включать поправку в.

to oppose an amendment — возражать / выступать против поправки

to overturn an amendment — отклонять / отвергать поправку

to place / to present an amendment — представлять поправку на рассмотрение

to propose / to put forward an amendment — предлагать поправку

6 amendment

7 amendment

8 amendment

amendment by compulsion — внесение поправок в состязательную бумагу по распоряжению суда;

amendment on court’s own motion — внесение поправок в состязательную бумагу по инициативе суда;

amendment to conform to proof — внесение поправок в состязательную бумагу в соответствии с принятыми судом доказательствами;

to insert [to make] an amendment — внести поправку;

to move [to propose] an amendment — предложить поправку;

to reject an amendment — отклонить поправку;

9 amendment

10 amendment

11 amendment

12 amendment

13 amendment

поправка (к резолюции, законопроекту) ;
to move an amendment внести поправку (в резолюцию и т. п.)

of act юр. поправка к закону

of action изменение дела

of articles of association орг.бизн. поправка к уставу ассоциации

of legislation юр. поправка к законопроекту

on point of form редакционная поправка

to act юр. поправка к закону

to constitution юр. поправка к конституции

распоряжение о внесении поправки

поправка (к резолюции, законопроекту) ;
to move an amendment внести поправку (в резолюцию и т. п.) move an

14 amendment

COMBS:

15 amendment

16 amendment

17 amendment

18 amendment

19 amendment

20 amendment

to move / propose an amendment — внести поправку

См. также в других словарях:

amendment — amend·ment n 1: an act of amending; esp: an alteration in wording amendment s to cure the defect in the pleading 2: an alteration proposed or put into effect by legislative or constitutional procedure the Congress. shall propose amendment s to… … Law dictionary

Amendment 46 — is a proposed initiative on the Colorado ballot for 2008. If ratified, Article II of the Colorado Constitution would state: The State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race … Wikipedia

Amendment — may refer to:*A change made to a pending motion or bill by a motion to amend *A change made to a previously adopted law or motion *A change made to a contract *Constitutional amendment, a change made to a written constitution *Soil conditioner,… … Wikipedia

Amendment — [ə mendmənt, englisch »Berichtigung«] das, s/ s, Zusatz, ergänzender oder abändernder Artikel zur Verfassung der USA von 1787 (bisher 26 Amendments) sowie zu den Verfassungen der Einzelstaaten. Die Amendments werden chronologisch an den… … Universal-Lexikon

amendment — (n.) early 13c., betterment, improvement; c.1300, of persons, correction, reformation, from O.Fr. amendment, from amender (see AMEND (Cf. amend)). Sense expanded to include correction of error in a legal process (c.1600) and alteration of a writ… … Etymology dictionary

amendment — [n1] correction, improvement alteration, amelioration, betterment, change, correction, enhancement, improvement, mending, modification, rectification, reform, reformation, remedy, repair, revision; concept 700 Ant. worsening amendment [n2]… … New thesaurus

amendment — ► NOUN 1) a minor improvement. 2) (Amendment) an article added to the US Constitution … English terms dictionary

Amendment — A*mend ment, n. [F. amendement, LL. amendamentum.] 1. An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices. [1913 Webster] 2. In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

amendment — [ə mend′mənt] n. [ME < OFr amendement < amender, AMEND] 1. a change for the better; improvement 2. a correction of errors, faults, etc. 3. a) a revision or addition proposed or made in a bill, law, constitution, etc. b) the process of… … English World dictionary

amendment — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ important, major, significant ▪ A major amendment was introduced into the legislation. ▪ minor, slight, small ▪ … Collocations dictionary

amendment — A revision to a document. A UCC financing statement can be amended by filing a designated amendment form, usually UCC 3. American Banker Glossary * * * amend a‧mend [əˈmend] verb [transitive] to make small changes to a law or a document, for… … Financial and business terms

amendment

поправка (к резолюции, законопроекту) ;
to move an amendment внести поправку (в резолюцию и т. п.)

of act юр. поправка к закону

of action изменение дела

of articles of association орг.бизн. поправка к уставу ассоциации

of legislation юр. поправка к законопроекту

on point of form редакционная поправка

to act юр. поправка к закону

to constitution юр. поправка к конституции

распоряжение о внесении поправки

поправка (к резолюции, законопроекту) ;
to move an amendment внести поправку (в резолюцию и т. п.) move an

Полезное

Смотреть что такое «amendment» в других словарях:

amendment — amend·ment n 1: an act of amending; esp: an alteration in wording amendment s to cure the defect in the pleading 2: an alteration proposed or put into effect by legislative or constitutional procedure the Congress. shall propose amendment s to… … Law dictionary

Amendment 46 — is a proposed initiative on the Colorado ballot for 2008. If ratified, Article II of the Colorado Constitution would state: The State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race … Wikipedia

Amendment — may refer to:*A change made to a pending motion or bill by a motion to amend *A change made to a previously adopted law or motion *A change made to a contract *Constitutional amendment, a change made to a written constitution *Soil conditioner,… … Wikipedia

Amendment — [ə mendmənt, englisch »Berichtigung«] das, s/ s, Zusatz, ergänzender oder abändernder Artikel zur Verfassung der USA von 1787 (bisher 26 Amendments) sowie zu den Verfassungen der Einzelstaaten. Die Amendments werden chronologisch an den… … Universal-Lexikon

amendment — (n.) early 13c., betterment, improvement; c.1300, of persons, correction, reformation, from O.Fr. amendment, from amender (see AMEND (Cf. amend)). Sense expanded to include correction of error in a legal process (c.1600) and alteration of a writ… … Etymology dictionary

amendment — [n1] correction, improvement alteration, amelioration, betterment, change, correction, enhancement, improvement, mending, modification, rectification, reform, reformation, remedy, repair, revision; concept 700 Ant. worsening amendment [n2]… … New thesaurus

amendment — ► NOUN 1) a minor improvement. 2) (Amendment) an article added to the US Constitution … English terms dictionary

Amendment — A*mend ment, n. [F. amendement, LL. amendamentum.] 1. An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices. [1913 Webster] 2. In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

amendment — [ə mend′mənt] n. [ME < OFr amendement < amender, AMEND] 1. a change for the better; improvement 2. a correction of errors, faults, etc. 3. a) a revision or addition proposed or made in a bill, law, constitution, etc. b) the process of… … English World dictionary

amendment — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ important, major, significant ▪ A major amendment was introduced into the legislation. ▪ minor, slight, small ▪ … Collocations dictionary

amendment — A revision to a document. A UCC financing statement can be amended by filing a designated amendment form, usually UCC 3. American Banker Glossary * * * amend a‧mend [əˈmend] verb [transitive] to make small changes to a law or a document, for… … Financial and business terms