Why we need it … What it is … How it works:
An Article V Convention of the States

Why:

The federal government, in its current form, is rapidly moving toward tyranny, dispensing unequal justice under the color of law, running up unsustainable debt, and enriching a privileged few who utilize the advantages of incumbency to accumulate wealth and power.

An Article V convention of the states is necessary to propose limits upon that government to benefit all citizens.

The strength of the Republic depends upon adherence to the first principles that were established by the founders, enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

We must insist that our federal government adhere to those first principles. We ask you to exercise the power given to you through Article V of the Constitution to make this happen.

What:

Article V provides the sovereign citizens, through their state legislatures, the power to restore a balanced and limited government. Article V is the “break glass in case of emergency” option for the states. We are in such an emergency.

Article V outlines two methods for proposing amendments to the Constitution. The first is through the U.S. Congress, and the second is through the states.

The second method states that Congress, “on the Application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing amendments.”

How:

Upon 34 state legislatures passing resolutions for a convention to propose amendments on the same topic(s), Congress is required by Article V to call a convention of the states.

• All 50 state legislatures will choose commissioners to represent them at the convention as each legislature sees fit.
• Each state delegation has a single vote: one vote per state at a convention.
• An Article V convention of the states is limited in purpose as indicated in the 34 applications that trigger it.
• For instance, under the Convention of States Action Resolution that has already passed in 19 of the needed 34 states, proposed amendments must be on one of three topics. 
1. Imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government.
2. Imposing term limits on federally elected or appointed officials.
3. Narrowing the scope and jurisdiction of the federal government.
• Should a majority of the states at the convention agree to one or more amendment proposals, it/they must be ratified by three-fourths of the states – 38 states – before an amendment can be added to the Constitution.

A convention is a limited-purpose gathering to discuss and propose amendments to the Constitution.

Under the Convention of States Action Resolution, discussions and debates will likely include:

• Term-limiting individuals in the U.S. Congress, the federal judiciary, and/or the federal bureaucracy.
• Setting budget boundaries and/or constraints on federal spending (like a balanced budget amendment and/or limiting fiscal legislation to a single subject). 
• Shrinking the gargantuan federal bureaucracy.

Those discussions and debates will likely be robust. As in any honest discussion of significance, there will be disagreement.

The discussions may yield a raft of proposed amendments to the Constitution, a few, or none at all. Any amendments that do emerge will have two characteristics: They will be crafted and written to limit the federal government in some way, and they will be sent to the legislatures of the several states for discussion and possible ratification.

Conclusion:

A convention of the states is not a constitutional convention; it is a conversation about the Constitution and the course of this Republic.

The Convention of States Action organization is a nonpartisan effort dedicated to strengthening the Constitution by returning power not granted to the federal government back to the several states – where it belongs.

We believe that limiting the power of the federal government benefits every American citizen regardless of political affiliation, creed, or color. Everyone benefits from policies being made closer to home, where elected officials have a better understanding of the issues and citizens all have a better opportunity to make their voices heard. When important policy decisions are made in Washington, D.C., powerful special interest groups have the advantage.

Supporters of an Article V convention are confident that you have the courage, judgment, integrity, and dedication to further the necessary conversation that must occur in order to protect and advance the first principles of a more perfect union.

You can perform the role that the Founders, many of whom were also members of their state legislatures, envisioned for you – to stand in the breach when the federal government exceeds its limits and to declare that the Constitution is not a dead letter.