How do other countries make constitutional amendments?

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China's top legislature on Sunday adopted an amendment to the current Constitution, its first in 14 years, after deputies voted at the plenary meeting of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has been written to the Constitution, while the expression the president and vice president of China "shall serve no more than two consecutive terms" has been removed.

The first session of the 13th NPC, China's national legislature, starts its third plenary meeting in Beijing, March 11, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

The draft amendment was proposed by the CPC Central Committee and adopted by the NPC Standing Committee in January. It was submitted to the first session of 13th NPC for deliberation on March 5.

China's current Constitution was adopted in 1982 and underwent four amendments in 1988, 1993, 1999 and 2004 before the fifth time in March this year.

Constitutional amendments in other parts of the world

As one of the most well-known constitutions, the Constitution of the United States, which came into force in 1789, has been amended 27 times.

The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, on the other hand, has undergone over 50 amendments in accordance to historical progress (e.g., the German reunification, membership in the European Union) or social development (e.g., women's rights and privatization of some public services).

Here is an overview of how constitutional amendments took place in other parts of the world.