When an amendment is ratified, it means that it has been officially approved and accepted as part of the United States Constitution by the necessary number of states.
Related terms
Proposal: A proposal refers to a formal suggestion or idea put forward for consideration. In terms of amendments, it represents when an amendment is introduced by Congress or through other methods.
Supermajority: A supermajority is a greater than simple majority vote required for certain decisions or actions. In case of amending the Constitution, ratification usually requires approval from three-fourths (or 38) out of 50 states' legislatures.
Suffrage: Suffrage simply means "the right to vote." It encompasses both men's suffrage (which existed earlier) and the fight for women's suffrage.