Definition
A formal change to an HOA's governing documents, usually requiring a membership vote at a set threshold.
An amendment is a formal change to the governing documents — the CC&Rs, bylaws, or articles. Because these documents define the community, changing them is deliberately harder than adopting a rule.
Amendments typically require a membership vote, often a supermajority, plus proper notice and, for CC&Rs, recording the change with the county. Boards pursuing an amendment should confirm the exact threshold and process in their documents and applicable law.