Seven years
Explanation:
Article V describes the process necessary to reform the constitution. It establishes two methods of proposing amendments: by Congress or by a national convention requested by the states. With the first method, the Congress can propose an amendment with the votes of two thirds (of a quorum, not necessarily of the whole chamber) of the Senate and the House of Representatives. With the second method, the legislative bodies of two thirds of the states can summon and force Congress to convene a national convention, and Congress must convene that convention in order to consider the proposed amendments. Until 2015, only the first method - proposed by Congress - has been used.
Once proposed-either by Congress or by national conventions-the amendments must be ratified by three-quarters of the states to take effect. Article V grants Congress the option of requiring ratification by the legislative bodies of the states or by special conventions convened in the states. The method of ratification by convention has only been used once (to approve the Twenty-first Amendment). Article five currently only imposes a limitation on the power of amendment-no amendment can deprive a state of its equal representation in the Senate without the consent of that state.
