Hint: Historically, this stringent requirement has resulted in only 27 amendments being successfully added to the Constitution since its adoption in 1788.

To amend the United States Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, which currently amounts to 38 out of 50 states. This requirement ensures a broad consensus across the country for any significant changes to the foundational legal document. The ratification process can occur through the state legislatures or state conventions, as determined by Congress. This high threshold reflects the framers' intention to make amending the Constitution a deliberately rigorous process, thereby maintaining stability while allowing for necessary changes over time. Historically, this stringent requirement has resulted in only 27 amendments being successfully added to the Constitution since its adoption in 1788.