Definition of amendment

The word "amendment" originates from the Latin "amendare", which means "to repair" or "to improve". In the context of law and governance, an amendment refers to a change or alteration made to a previously existing law, document, or agreement. The use of "amendment" in this sense dates back to the 14th century, when it was first used to describe changes made to the Vulgate, a translation of the Bible. Over time, the term gained wider usage in English-language law and governance, particularly in the context of the United States Constitution. In the 1787 Constitution, Article V established the process for amending the document, allowing two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to propose amendments, or a National Convention called by Congress to do so. Since then, 27 amendments have been added to the Constitution, with the most recent one ratified in 1992.