So what is this Convention of States thing about anyhow?
Convention of States is part of the Constitution under Article V which describes how to propose amendments to the Constitution.
When our Founders were debating, Col. George Mason stood up and declared that they had granted Congress the power to propose amendments, but what if Congress was the problem? They would never propose anything to limit their own power.
So an alternate method was suggested. If the legislatures of two-thirds of the states passed identical resolutions, they could call a convention for the purpose of proposing amendments. It was passed without debate.
Is there any question that the federal government is out of control? We are $21 trillion in debt, not counting unfunded mandates. There were recently two Supreme Court rulings regarding the First Amendment. They passed by a vote of 5 to 4.
That means four Supreme Court justices voted against our basic rights of free speech and freedom of religion. In my opinion, that's too close for comfort.
We have three areas of focus on our resolution.
1. Term limits
2. Fiscal constraint
3. Limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government
The Constitution was never intended to limit the people. It was designed to limit the government. Article 1 Section 8 spells out everything they are allowed to do. If it's not listed there, it goes to the 10th Amendment and to the states and the people.
Federal officials no longer believe they have any limits. When the Supreme Court makes a bad ruling, Congress passes new laws based on that ruling instead of referring to the original text of the Constitution. Congress still follows a Constitution, but the one they use is nearly 3,000 pages and contains all of the court rulings and precedent.
It's now up to us to clarify what the Founders meant by "limited government." Congress has empowered bureaucratic agencies to pass regulations that function the same as laws, which gives them the excuse to claim they aren't responsible.
They exempt themselves from the laws they pass. Insider trading is legal for congressmen and senators. It's one method they use to enrich themselves. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. It's time to rein them back in.
Those in power will never willingly give up that power. Convention of States is our only option to return the limits our Founders intended.
