How many amendments are currently in the U.S. Constitution?

The correct answer is that there are currently twenty-seven amendments in the U.S. Constitution. These amendments are formal changes or additions to the original text of the Constitution, and they include significant changes that have shaped the legal and political framework of the United States since the Constitution was ratified in 1788.

The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and guarantee essential rights and freedoms. The later amendments have addressed various critical issues, such as the abolition of slavery, voting rights, and changes to the electoral process. Each amendment represents a response to the evolving needs and values of American society and reflects the framers' intent to create a living document that could adapt over time.

The other choices reflect inaccuracies in the number of amendments; thus, they do not represent the correct total. Understanding the significance of these amendments provides insight into the foundation of U.S. law and the protection of individual liberties, making the knowledge of the number of amendments integral to understanding American civic literacy.