“THE VERDICT IS IN: THE PROCESS WORKS,”
Says Rob Natelson, Director of the Article V Information Center and America’s Foremost Published and Active Article V Constitutional Scholar
THE ARTICLE V CONVENTION FOR PROPOSING AMENDMENTS IS A WORKABLE PROCESS THAT CAN BE USED BY THE STATES TO CHECK FEDERAL POWER
Purcellville, VA, Sept. 26—Citizens for Self-Governance extends appreciation to the 137 commissioners from all 50 states, for the role they played in demonstrating to the American people that the Article V convention for proposing amendments is a workable process that can be effectively used by the states to check federal power. In the words of Professor Randy E. Barnett, “George Mason, who gave us the Article V Convention of States, would be proud; it was his spirit that pervaded the hall.”
The Simulated Article V Convention for proposing amendments kicked off on Wednesday evening, Sept. 21st, when attendees received a visit by James Madison with a message of self-governance. Thursday morning, Sept. 22nd, commissioners met in three committees, corresponding with the three subject matters for amendment proposals specified in the Convention of States Project’s application for the Article V convention, to deliberate on amendment proposals. Friday, Sept 23rd, began with Patrick Henry recounting his “liberty or death” speech before the state delegations hit the floor of the final plenary session to debate and vote on each proposal that passed a committee, resulting in the final approval of the six proposals detailed below. But the Convention also voted to adopt the following statement to the American people:
Statement of Convention:
“The Convention respectfully submits these proposals to the American people with the conviction that they are a sound beginning to a critically-needed national discussion about restoring the balance of power between the federal government and the states. Further, it is the conviction of this body that the states must deliberate and adopt appropriate proposals for a balanced budget amendment and an amendment to provide the states a means to serve as a check on judicial overreach by the federal judiciary of the United States.”
Mark Meckler, President of Citizens for Self-Governance and Co-Founder of the Convention of States Project, said, “The convention operated smoothly and according to the rules. It was an emotional experience to witness the seriousness of the commissioners as they debated. Now it’s on to the real convention—the sooner the better.”
Rep. Ken Ivory (UT), who was elected by the body on Thursday as the President of the Convention, had this message for the commissioners, “Thank you. The nation can be proud of the work you have done to signal the path forward in restoring vitality to our ingenious governing system — a system that requires constitutional balance between the states and the national government. As Thomas Jefferson counseled this “must be done by the states themselves, erecting such barriers at the constitutional line as cannot be surmounted…”
“The events at Williamsburg will be remembered as a turning point in history,” stated Michael Farris, co-founder of the Convention of States Project. “The spirit of liberty and self-government have been reignited.”
At adjournment, the convention ended up with six proposed amendments, examples of the kind of amendments that are germane and lawful under the Convention of States application.
Proposed Amendments Summary (the full text of the proposals are available in the Final Report at this link):
- Requiring the states to approve any increase in the national debt.
- Requiring a super majority for federal taxes and repeal the 16th Amendment.
- Limiting federal overreach by returning the Commerce Clause to its original meaning.
- Limiting the power of federal regulations by giving an easy congressional override.
- Give the states (by a 3/5ths vote) the power to abrogate any federal law, regulation or executive order.
- Term limits on Congress.
Fiscal Restraints Proposal 1:
SECTION 1. The public debt shall not be increased except upon a recorded vote of two-thirds of each house of Congress, and only for a period not to exceed one year.
SECTION 2. No state or any subdivision thereof shall be compelled or coerced by Congress or the President to appropriate money.
SECTION 3. The provisions of the first section of this amendment shall take effect 3 years after ratification.
Fiscal Restraints Proposal 2:
SECTION 1. Congress shall not impose taxes or other exactions upon incomes, gifts, or estates.
SECTION 2. Congress shall not impose or increase any tax, duty, impost or excise without the approval of three-fifths of the House of Representatives and three-fifths of the Senate, and shall separately present such to the President.
SECTION 3. This Article shall be effective five years from the date of its ratification, at which time the Sixteenth Article of amendment is repealed.
Federal Legislative & Executive Jurisdiction Proposal 1:
SECTION 1. The power of Congress to regulate commerce among the several states shall be limited to the regulation of the sale, shipment, transportation, or other movement of goods, articles or persons. Congress may not regulate activity solely because it affects commerce among the several states.
SECTION 2. The power of Congress to make all laws that are necessary and proper to regulate commerce among the several states, or with foreign nations, shall not be construed to include the power to regulate or prohibit any activity that is confined within a single state regardless of its effects outside the state, whether it employs instrumentalities therefrom, or whether its regulation or prohibition is part of a comprehensive regulatory scheme; but Congress shall have power to define and provide for punishment of offenses constituting acts of war or violent insurrection against the United States.
SECTION 3. The Legislatures of the States shall have standing to file any claim alleging violation of this article. Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit standing that may otherwise exist for a person.
SECTION 4. This article shall become effective five years from the date of its ratification.
Federal Legislative & Executive Jurisdiction Proposal 2:
SECTION 1. The Legislatures of the States shall have authority to abrogate any provision of federal law issued by the Congress, President, or Administrative Agencies of the United States, whether in the form of a statute, decree, order, regulation, rule, opinion, decision, or other form.
SECTION 2. Such abrogation shall be effective when the Legislatures of three-fifths of the States approve a resolution declaring the same provision or provisions of federal law to be abrogated. This abrogation authority may also be applied to provisions of federal law existing at the time this amendment is ratified.
SECTION 3. No government entity or official may take any action to enforce a provision of federal law after it is abrogated according to this Amendment. Any action to enforce a provision of abrogated federal law may be enjoined by a federal or state court of general jurisdiction in the state where the enforcement action occurs, and costs and attorney fees of such injunction shall be awarded against the entity or official attempting to enforce the abrogated provision.
SECTION 4. No provision of federal law abrogated pursuant to this amendment may be reenacted or reissued for six years from the date of the abrogation.
Federal Legislative & Executive Jurisdiction Proposal 3:
Whenever one quarter of the members of the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate transmits to the President their written declaration of opposition to any proposed or existing federal administrative regulation, in whole or in part, it shall require a majority vote of the House of Representatives and Senate to adopt or affirm that regulation. Upon the transmittal of opposition, if Congress shall fail to vote within 180 days, such regulation shall be vacated. No proposed regulation challenged under the terms of this Article shall go into effect without the approval of Congress. Congressional approval or rejection of a rule or regulation is not subject to Presidential veto under Article 1, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution.
Federal Term Limits & Judicial Jurisdiction Proposal 1:
No person shall be elected to more than six full terms in the House of Representatives. No person shall be elected to more than two full terms in the Senate. These limits shall include the time served prior to the enactment of this Article.
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About the Convention of States Project is currently organized in all 50 states, including more than 1 million volunteers, supporters and advocates committed to stopping the federal government’s abuse of power. Since 2013, eight states have passed the COS Project Resolution: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee. In 2016, the COS Resolution was filed in 31 states. For more information visit www.ConventionofStates.com.
