Use this link to let your legislator know
you are a proud supporter of COS Action
& invite them to support
our legislation in the 2024 session.
WATCH 2024 SENATE & HOUSE TESTIMONY
Senate Bill #1073 is officially filed
was heard in the Education, Energy & Environment Committee
House Bill #1202 is officially filed
was heard in the Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
WATCH EPISODE 4 OF SENATOR IRA PRESSRIGHTS
WATCH THIS INSIGHTFUL ARTICLE V VIDEO
NEW! Our COS ACTION MARYLAND CALENDAR OF EVENTS IS LIVE!
Follow Convention of States Action Maryland activities and join meetings with a "click & a link"!
Our Mission
To empower Maryland citizens with the ability to enact change on a national level using the powers granted them in Article V of the United States Constitution.
What is Convention of States Action?
Convention of States Action is a grassroots movement to call a convention of states under Article V of the Constitution in order to propose amendments to the Constitution that limit the power and scope of the federal government.
Per Article V of the Constitution, two-thirds of the state legislatures must pass resolutions calling for a convention of states. These resolutions are counted by Congress to determine if there are enough to call for a convention. These resolutions must be worded identically to prevent any legal challenges when they are counted.
Convention of States Action is taking a deliberate and coordinated approach to organize efforts to pass identical resolutions in state legislatures. As of today, our resolution has been passed in 19 state legislatures. We are almost halfway to the necessary 34 states!
Each state must pass their own resolution and so each state has its own grassroots volunteer team. In Maryland, we are powered 100% by volunteers. We are regular folks with regular jobs and we live in the same neighborhoods as you. Check out the Our Team page to get connected with us!
Convention of States Action is a Section 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. We are a non-partisan movement!
What amendments to the Constitution are we seeking?
Amendments that can be proposed at the convention we are calling for must be limited to the topics stated in the resolutions passed by the states. At the time of the convention, the state delegates will debate, propose and vote on which amendments are to advance to the ratification process. Convention of States Action does not have any official list of amendments.
This is a democratic process that is controlled by the states and their citizens. After amendments are proposed, three-fourths of the states must vote to ratify each of them.
We seek amendments that:
- Impose fiscal restraints on the federal government
- Limit the terms of office for members of Congress and other federal officials.
- Limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government
Here is the exact wording from our standard resolution calling for a convention:
The legislature of the State of ______ hereby applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.
Get Informed and Get Involved!
We will only be successful if people recognize this opportunity and get engaged to make a difference. We have already passed resolutions in 19 states. With your help, we can get this done in Maryland!
Get Informed
You can't make an informed decision about something if you don't understand it. We encourage you to explore many of the great resources available on this site so that you can have a complete understanding of this movement and what a convention of states would look like. The short description above is merely a very cursory overview.
If we are to be successful in spreading the word about this movement and our rights under Article V, we need to be able to effectively convey this information to others as well.
Please visit our Get Informed page for information on:
- How Maryland Government works (the basics)
- What needs to be done for a convention of states resolution to pass in Maryland
- A list of Maryland legislators who have sponsored or co-sponsored the resolution in the last session
- Identifying and contacting your Maryland Legislators
- Links to videos, documents, downloads and other resources on this site that you can explore to learn about:
- Article V of the Constitution
- Why we need to amend the Constitution
- The history of conventions
- How a convention would work
- Common arguments and propaganda against a convention
- Many other convention of states related topics.
Get Involved
These two things have an immediate and substantial impact.
- The first thing everyone should do is SIGN THE PETITION
When signing the petition, please consider opting in to receive our emails so that you can stay informed on our progress in Maryland and perhaps even join us at upcoming events.
Also, check the volunteer box if you would like to learn more about being a volunteer. - The very next thing to do is CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS
We need volunteers! Volunteers are absolutely critical if we are to be successful. Please consider spending some of your time to help. Every volunteer does not need to take an official position or commit to many hours a week. You can volunteer to help in many different ways, when you can.
If you are interested in learning more about being a volunteer, please check that box when signing the petition or just contact us and let us know. We'd love to meet over coffee and discuss how you can help.
But you don't need to be a volunteer to spread the word! There are a number of ways you can help spread the word and inform others of this movement, most of the time without moving from your couch.
Please visit our Get Involved page for information on:
- Contacting your legislator
- Volunteer roles and needs in Maryland
- How to make a difference WITHOUT volunteering
- How to spread the word
- Joining us at events
- Requesting a presentation for your group or club
Once you sign the petition your district captain, who lives in your area, will contact you by phone or email. Get to know them! They can help answer any questions you may have and would love to meet you. You can also visit the Our Team page to contact any one of us. We'd love to hear from you!
