In constitutional terminology, what is a formal change or addition made to the Constitution of a country called?

Introduction / Context:
Constitutions are designed to be stable, yet flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances. When a country needs to modify its Constitution, it follows a special, often more rigorous, procedure. The technical term for such a formal change is important for students of polity and law. This question checks whether you know the correct term used when the text of the Constitution is formally changed or added to.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about a formal change or addition to the Constitution itself.
• The options provided are a Bill, an Act, an Amendment, and an Interpret.
• We assume awareness that the Constitution is a higher law requiring a special process for change.
• We focus on the terminology, not the procedural details.

Concept / Approach:
A Bill is a proposed law introduced in the legislature. An Act is a Bill that has been passed by the legislature and received the necessary assent, thereby becoming law. When such a law is specifically intended to change the text of the Constitution, it is called a Constitutional Amendment. In common usage, the formal change itself is referred to as an amendment. Therefore, when the Constitution is altered or new provisions are inserted, those changes are called amendments to the Constitution.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question asks about the name of the change, not the instrument used to propose it.Step 2: Recall that Bills are proposals; once they are passed and assented to, they become Acts.Step 3: Understand that a Constitutional Amendment Bill, once passed and assented to, results in an amendment to the Constitution.Step 4: Among the options, the term that correctly describes the formal change itself is 'Amendment'.Step 5: Select 'An Amendment' as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Look at how famous changes to the Constitution are referred to, such as the Forty-Second Amendment or the Forty-Fourth Amendment in the Indian context. They are not called the Forty-Second Bill or Forty-Second Act in common parlance; rather, they are recognised as amendments. Similarly, in other countries like the United States, changes are known as constitutional amendments, such as the First Amendment or the Fourteenth Amendment. This widespread terminology confirms that the correct word is amendment.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• A Bill: This is only a proposal; it becomes law only after passage and assent. It is not the name of the final constitutional change.
• An Act: Although an Act is a law, including laws that amend the Constitution, the specific change to the Constitution is termed an amendment.
• An Interpret: This is not standard constitutional terminology. Interpretation of the Constitution is done by courts, but interpretations are not the same as formal textual changes.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse the process (Constitutional Amendment Bill, Constitutional Amendment Act) with the result (amendment). To avoid this, remember that the Constitution is said to be amended by a constitutional amendment, which is brought about through a Constitutional Amendment Act. The key word that directly answers the question, however, is amendment.

Final Answer:
A formal change made to the Constitution is called an Amendment.