We need to actually read Article V. Now I would say it can be a bit hard to read as generally printed as it runs together.
This isn't really that hard. Really.
So then here:
The Constitution of the United States
* * * * * * * * * *
Article V
[Congress proposes]
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution,
[OR means OR of course, in this case WHO proposes the idea. Nothing more, nothing less. ]
[This is NOT ratification. Keep reading for that]
or,
[the States propose the idea. Nothing more. Nothing less.]
on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states,
[and when the States have 2/3, Congress SHALL (NO choice for them. Shall means SHALL]
[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/shall]
shall call a convention for proposing amendments,
[meaning of course, the FEDS cannot overrule an amendment]
which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution,
when ratified by
the legislatures of three fourths of the several states,
or
by conventions in three fourths thereof,
[Congress can *propose* a method of ratification. A proposal is NOT a command. The States can do whatever they want]
as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress;
[passe now]
provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state,
[states all have equal voting rights]
without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
>http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/constitution/article-v.html
This isn't really that hard. Really.
So then here:
The Constitution of the United States
* * * * * * * * * *
Article V
[Congress proposes]
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution,
[OR means OR of course, in this case WHO proposes the idea. Nothing more, nothing less. ]
[This is NOT ratification. Keep reading for that]
or,
[the States propose the idea. Nothing more. Nothing less.]
on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states,
[and when the States have 2/3, Congress SHALL (NO choice for them. Shall means SHALL]
[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/shall]
shall call a convention for proposing amendments,
[meaning of course, the FEDS cannot overrule an amendment]
which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution,
when ratified by
the legislatures of three fourths of the several states,
or
by conventions in three fourths thereof,
[Congress can *propose* a method of ratification. A proposal is NOT a command. The States can do whatever they want]
as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress;
[passe now]
provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state,
[states all have equal voting rights]
without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
>http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/constitution/article-v.html