The United States Constitution is a brilliant document that spells out a system of government with decentralized power and authority. When the delegates met at the Philadelphia Convention to craft a Republic, they wanted to solve the problem of having too weak of a confederation without having a central authority that was too strong. What emerged was a beautiful system of checks and balances. All thirteen States would eventually ratify the Constitution, despite the concerns about a central government having too much power over each of them.
In the United States today, the sentiment over having too strong of a centralized government has not waned. If anything it is as strong as ever. Concern over the size and scope of the Federal Government has gained the attention of Americans for many reasons, including too much federal debt, overburdensome federal regulations and authority in the States, and lifelong politicians holding office for decades, to name a few.
Fortunately, the Framers gave We The People a way to amend the Constitution in order to correct these kinds of structural problems. It’s called Article V and it’s part of that system of checks and balances.
Here’s what it says:
“The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress..."
Twenty-seven amendments have been ratified under Article V, the first ten being the Bill of Rights. There is a range of subjects addressed by these amendments, but generally, most Americans view most of them as positive. The Tenth Amendment in particular has been central to the debate between federal and state power. It clarifies that power not delegated to the United States under the Constitution are reserved to the States or the people.
Lawsuits filed in the Supreme Court under the 10th Amendment are numerous in the nation’s history, yet the Federal Government has been able to expand its power and authority at the expense of the States and the people residing in them. In Arizona, there is a growing number of residents concerned about government corruption, people entering the State through the border with Mexico, and the integrity of elections. Many people believe that the Federal Government has violated the sovereignty of Arizona by allowing drug cartels to wield influence over officials who hold public office.
According to US Debt Clock, a website that shows the national debt in real-time, the national debt is more than $33.5 Trillion and climbing. If the debt was divided evenly by every citizen in the country, then each citizen would owe nearly $100,000. Arizona is a state with a population of 7,505,689. So the portion of the National Debt that is owed by every person living in Arizona is over $750 BILLION. The GDP of Arizona is only $458 BILLION. In-state revenue is only $46.7 BILLION, while spending is nearly double that. State debt is around $43 BILLION.
With all that in mind, it is easy to see how Arizona could NEVER pay its portion of the National Debt. How many other states are in a similar circumstance? The Federal Government has bankrupted this county and every state therein, hasn’t it?
There is hope, however. Arizona passed its resolution to participate in a Convention of States in 2017. For many, a convention of states represents a way to reclaim state sovereignty and save Arizona for the children of tomorrow. As more and more States experience similar issues, the solution becomes more clear. Arizona and 18 other States are leading the way by passing their resolutions to call a convention. Today, we call on others to join us and secure the future of this country for generations to come.
If enough State legislatures vote to hold a convention, then they can draft constitutional amendments and submit them for ratification. Then, after the proposed amendments are ratified, they become part of the law of the land. This is the only way to rein in the corrupted, central authority called the Federal Government. Congress won’t ever do it. This is a great way for state legislatures to advocate for their own power and authority over their own state. The States must assert their authority and sovereignty by implementing this process. It is their right.
In Arizona, the effort continues to fight for every coming generation of the future. If you are a member of the Arizona Legislature and you are reading this, please know:
You hold the future of this state in your hands. Please ask yourself, how do you want to be remembered in the future? Will history remember you as a champion of Liberty and all that’s good, or will you be remembered as a champion of evil and tyranny? On behalf of all the people of Arizona, join with us in saving our State, its future and the future of the entire Nation.
