The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it
necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution; or, on the
application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States,
shall call a convention for proposing amendments, 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
thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by
Congress; 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, WITHOUT ITS CONSENT, SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF ITS EQUAL
SUFFRAGE IN THE SENATE.