An amendment must be ratified by three-fourths (38) of the states within a proscribed deadline in order to be passed. What has to happen first before an amendment is sent to the states for considerati?

Before an amendment is sent to the states for consideration, it must be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures. This proposal sets the stage for the amendment to be ratified by the states. Once proposed, the amendment then goes through the ratification process, requiring approval from three-fourths of the states within a specified deadline.