“Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention which assembled under every propitious circumstance, I should tremble for the result of a Second, meeting in the present temper of America, and under all the disadvantages I have mentioned.” James Madison, “Father of U.S. Constitution”, November 2, 1788
Our U.S. Constitution provides two methods to amend or change it. They are both found in Article V. One is for 2/3 of both houses of Congress to propose amendments. The other is for 2/3 of the State Legislatures to “call a Convention for proposing Amendments”. Amendments proposed by either method become effective “when ratified by the Legislatures of 3/4 of the states by Conventions in 3/4 thereof”.
Our Constitution was amended 18 times since it was first adopted in 1787. The first ten amendments were adopted together as our “Bill of Rights” in 1791. It was then amended 17 times during the next 227 years. Each of those 27 amendments was proposed by 2/3 of both houses of Congress. So far, the states never called a “Convention of States” or “Constitutional Convention” to amend our Constitution.
During the past few years, several well known conservatives proposed a “Convention of States” (Constitutional Convention) to amend or change our Constitution. They claim that such a convention can propose amendments with good ideas like term limits and limits on borrowing and spending.
However, many Communists, socialists, and “progressive Democrats also want to change our Constitution. They are proposing many bad ideas. They want to get rid of the First Amendment so that “hate speech” (speech by anyone who disagrees with them) can be punished like it is in Europe, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. They want to get rid of the 2d Amendment and outlaw all private gun ownership. They want to get rid of the 10th Amendment that limits the power of the federal government. They want to get rid of the Electoral College so a handful of big, socialist “sanctuary states” like California, Illinois, New York and New Jersey can pick all future Presidents.
If we have a “Convention of States” to propose changes to our Constitution, who would control it? Whose proposed amendments would come out of it? Even if 3/4 of all states fail to ratify bad amendments, there will be enormous pressure to change the ratification process if the big socialist states with a majority of the population support them. Look at how they are already undermining the Electoral College!
Since 2014, Legislatures in 29 states adopted resolutions calling for a “Convention of States” to change our Constitution. There will be a Constitutional Convention if 2/3 (34) or just 5 more states adopt the resolution.
Most conservatives agree that America was great when our Constitution was understood, respected, and enforced as written. We also agree that most Senators, Members of Congress, Judges, and State and Local Officials today routinely ignore and violate our Constitution. Why not work to elect officials who will “preserve, protect, and defend” our Constitution? If those officials ignore the clear written language of the Constitution we have now, why would they respect and comply with a different Constitution?
Last year, our organization LibertyAndProsperity.com voted overwhelmingly to oppose any “Convention of States”. However, during the past few breakfasts, several guests and members asked us to talk about this issue again.
For that reason, we are having a special two hour breakfast program on the Convention of States Issue this Saturday, March 23. We will begin at our regular 9:30AM time. There will be special video presentations and speakers during the first hour moderated by Steve Jones. There will be an optional Question and Answer session and discussion for those who wish to stay during the next hour. from 10:30AM to 11:30AM.
If you like our work, please support us with a tax deductible donation or be a $30 per year supporting member. Pay online at LibertyAndProsperity.com, or at any Saturday Breakfast Discussion. Or mail or drop off your check at our Somers Point office. Thanks!
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