Editing Constitutional amendment (section)

==Africa==

===Ethiopia===
The [[1995 Constitution of Ethiopia|Constitution]] of [[Ethiopia]] can only be modified by a two-thirds majority of the [[Regions of Ethiopia|country's regions]], and a two-thirds majority of a joint session of the [[Federal Parliamentary Assembly]] in accordance with Article 105. The constitution's Chapter Three (describing both Human and democratic rights) and the constitution's Articles 104 and 105 are [[Entrenchment clause|almost unamendable]] since they require the total consensus of the federal regional states and two-thirds of each house of Parliament. In Ethiopia's federal experience, each regional state is equal and has the right to veto amendments to the aforementioned articles.

===South Africa===
The [[Constitution of South Africa]] can be amended by an [[Act of Parliament]], but special procedures and requirements apply to the passage of constitutional amendments. A [[bill (proposed law)|bill]] amending the Constitution must be introduced in the [[National Assembly of South Africa|National Assembly]], and cannot contain any provisions other than constitutional amendments and directly related matters.<ref name="saconst">[[s:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996|Constitution of the Republic of South Africa]], [[s:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996/Chapter 4|chp. 4]].</ref>{{rp|at=§ 74}}

At least 30 days before a constitutional amendment bill is introduced in the National Assembly, the person or committee introducing the amendment must publish it for public comment, submit it to the [[provincial legislature (South Africa)|provincial legislatures]], and, if it does not have to be passed by the [[National Council of Provinces]] (NCOP), submit it to the NCOP for debate. When the bill is introduced, the comments received must be tabled in the National Assembly, and in the NCOP when appropriate.<ref name="saconst" />{{rp|at=§ 74}}

All amendments must be passed by an [[absolute majority|absolute]] two-thirds [[supermajority]] in the National Assembly (the [[lower house]]); as the Assembly has 400 members this requires 267 members to vote for the amendment. Most amendments do not have to be considered by the NCOP (the [[upper house]]). Amendments of the [[Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa|Bill of Rights]], and amendments affecting the role of the NCOP, the "boundaries, powers, functions or institutions" of the [[Provinces of South Africa|provinces]] or provisions "dealing specifically with provincial matters" must also be passed by the NCOP with a supermajority of at least six of the nine provinces. If an amendment affects a specific province, it must also be approved by the legislature of the province concerned. Section 1, which defines South Africa as "one, sovereign, democratic state" and lists its founding values, is a specially [[entrenched clause]] and can only be amended by an absolute three-quarters supermajority in the National Assembly and six of the provinces in the NCOP.<ref name="saconst" />{{rp|at=§ 74}}

Once an Act is passed by the National Assembly, and by the NCOP if necessary, it must be signed and assented to by the [[President of South Africa|President]]. As with any other Act of Parliament, by default an amendment comes into effect when it is published in the ''[[Government Gazette of South Africa|Government Gazette]]'', but the text of the amendment may specify some other date of commencement, or allow the President to specify one by notice in the ''Gazette''.<ref name="saconst" />{{rp|at=§ 81}}