Breaking – Arizona Legislature Passes Convention of States Resolution

westernfreepress.com ^ | 3/13/17 | David Leeper

[cotton1706]

After several years of trying, the Arizona State Legislature has just joined 8 other states in passing a Convention of States Resolution calling for a convention to propose amendments to the US Constitution. Today the AZ Senate joined the House in voting for this resolution.

The called-for amendments proposals convention will be mujch more than an academic debate and an appeal as a supplicant to the US Congress.

Article V (Part 2) of the US Constitution gives state legislatures the power to amend the US Constitution without the permission or approval of Congress, the President, or the Supreme Court.

Yes, Article V actually does that. For the details, please see the attached video, go to www.ConventionOfStates.com, and check out the other videos, the FAQs, and the full Convention of States story at that site!

[cotton1706]

State number 9!!!

[cotton1706]

Ping!

[Publius]

And now there are 9, and we have 25 to go.

9 states: AL, AK, AZ, FL, GA, IN, LA, OK, TN

[exnavy]

we are getting closer, the founder had great wisdom.

[RushingWater]

Term limits on Senators and Representatives!

[bIlluminati]

Before that, lifetime term limits on bureaucRats of 4-8 years, no exceptions.

[Jimmy The Snake]

Yes term limits.

Something to rein in Judicial fiat of judges making laws would be nice.

[Publius]

Here is my usual pedantic boilerplate that explains the process to those who don't understand how it works.

***

The amendatory process under Article V consists of three steps: Proposal, Disposal, and Ratification.

Proposal:

There are two ways to propose an amendment to the Constitution.

• The Congressional Method requires the House and Senate to pass an amendment by a two thirds majority.
• The Amendments Convention Method requires the legislatures of two thirds of the states to apply to Congress to call a Convention for Proposing Amendments. Once the two thirds threshold is reached, Congress is required to set a time and place for the convention.

Article V gives Congress and an Amendments Convention exactly the same power to propose amendments, no more and no less.

Disposal:

Once Congress, or an Amendments Convention, proposes amendments, Congress must decide whether the states will ratify by the:

• State Legislature Method, or the
• State Ratifying Convention Method.

The State Ratifying Convention Method has only been used twice: once to ratify the Constitution, and once to ratify the 21st Amendment repealing Prohibition.

Ratification:

Depending upon which ratification method is chosen by Congress, either the state legislatures vote up-or-down on the proposed amendment, or the voters elect a state ratifying convention to vote up-or-down. If three fourths of the states vote to ratify, the amendment becomes part of the Constitution.

Forbidden Subjects:

Article V contains two explicitly forbidden subjects and one implicitly forbidden subject.

Explicitly forbidden:

• No amendment may be added to the Constitution concerning slavery or capitation taxes until 1808. We’re well past that deadline.
• No amendment may be added to the Constitution to change the principle of equal representation in the Senate unless every state deprived of that right approves. If California wants five senators, every state must have five senators. To permit violation of this principle, every state would have to ratify the amendment, not just three fourths.

Implicitly forbidden:

• The Constitution of 1787 may not be abrogated and replaced with a new document. Article V only authorizes “a convention for proposing amendments to this Constitution;” therefore, the Constitution of 1787 is locked in place forever. Congress and an Amendments Convention have exactly the same Proposal power; therefore, neither Congress nor an Amendments Convention can start over. Both bodies can only propose amendments.

Reference works:

Frequently Asked Questions About a Convention of the States

Proposing Constitutional Amendments by a Convention of the States: A Handbook for State Lawmakers

State Initiation of Constitutional Amendments: A Guide for Lawyers and Legislative Drafters

[dragnet2]

Term them out!

[Hostage]

Outstanding. Going quicker now.

[TheTimeOfMan]

This is always extremely risky. With so many RINO’s around we could end up permanently screwed.

[lewislynn]

Article V (Part 2) of the US Constitution gives state legislatures the power to amend the US Constitution without the permission or approval of Congress, the President, or the Supreme Court.

That's great news because now they can finally pass an "equal rights amendment". Only this time they can make it not only for women but for EVERYONE that isn't a white heterosexual male including LGBTQ and you name it.

I'll bet those state legislators can't wait to put their own puppet Senators in office so those (rube) voters never have that nonsense of voting for their own candidate ever again.

I can't wait to see the new re-wording of the first amendment with regard to "fake news" and "fake news" organizations.

It will be especially interesting to see the pretty (re) wording of the 2nd amendment taking our gun rights away...

[ArtDodger]

Do away with special health care plans for the entitled politicians and their families and staff people! Put them in the same situation as us and watch them fix health care OVERNIGHT!

[Hostage]

The republicans-in-name-only (RINOs) are tied to the nation’s Capitol even if they reside in the states because Washington DC is where the money and power are rooted and RINOs are preoccupied with those things.

The Article V process is a grassroots process that aims to do things that RINOs tied to Washington DC won’t do.

They are very different classes of persons.

An Article V member proposing amendments that would be anathema to the causes and concerns of the grassroots would be quickly outed.

[dayglored]

Thank you for posting your “usual pedantic boilerplate”, Publius.

As many times as I’ve consulted the Constitution on various questions, it’s very good to review things that haven’t been read in a while.

[Celerity]

Indeed, I REALLY don’t want to see these people getting their hands in the pot just yet.

We’re almost there, but not quite. But how about this for an idea for the congresscritters ?

How about they start to follow the laws already in place, eh ? Until the second amendment is completely observed and followed true, no one gets their hands on it.

[stylin19a]

that’s the feeling I’ve always had about this.

careful what you vote for, you might get it.

I suppose it’s a good thing most of the state legislatures are Repub.

I can just see california trying to get an amendment that will get them a bazillion more representatives.

[Art in Idaho]

Great news!

[fision]

Do away with the senates thrones and make them sit at eye level with witnesses during hearings.

[OrangeHoof]

This is also going through the Texas legislature this year and there are radio ads run in support of it. It needs 38 states total before it can become law so this is pretty much a Hail Mary pass to begin with.