Our U.S. Constitution provides two methods to amend or change it. Both are 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. This was part of a deal made to ratify our original Constitution, and to elect George Washington as our first President in 1788. Our Constitution 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 proposed one single amendment. So far, the states never called a “Convention of States” or “Constitutional Convention” with the power to amend our entire Constitution.
The most significant of those 17 amendments after the Bill of Rights included:
13th Amendment (1865): Abolishes slavery
14th Amendment (1868): Grants basic civil rights to all citizens, regardless of race.
15th Amendment: (1870): Right to vote shall not be denied on basis of race.
16th Amendment: (1913): Permits federal income tax.
17th Amendment: (1913): Direct election of U.S. Senators
18th Amendment: (1920): Right to vote shall not be denied on basis of sex.
22nd Amendment: (1951): No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice.
26th Amendment (1971): Right to vote shall not be denied to any citizen 18 years or older.
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, such a convention would be a no good, horrible, very bad idea. Here’ are 5 reasons why:
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.
For More Information, Click Here For: Con-Con the Full Story : The John Birch Society (jbs.org)
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If they don’t follow, and are not now held accountable to the US Constitution, why do you think they would follow any new one? And, many now want a fluid document that changes at the whims of society. Haven’t we learned anything about the inherent nature of man?