This joint resolution establishes a specific ratification deadline for the Congressional Apportionment Amendment , which currently lacks one. It mandates that for the amendment to become a valid part of the Constitution, it must be ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states no later than December 31, 2026 . The resolution explicitly states that any ratification occurring after this deadline will not be considered valid for the amendment's adoption. Congress asserts its authority under Article V of the Constitution to establish reasonable conditions for the ratification of proposed amendments, including the imposition of such deadlines.