On September 15, 1787, George Mason realized the framers of the U.S. Constitution had made a terrible mistake.
According to James Madison's notes, Mason believed that the people needed a way to amend the Constitution if Congress were ever to become oppressive. As it stood, the Constitution only allowed Congress to propose amendments.
"No amendment of the proper kind would ever be obtained by the people, if the government should become oppressive, as he verily believed would be the case," Madison says of Mason's comments.
The rest of the Framers agreed.
They adopted the Convention of States option into Article V of the Constitution on a unanimous vote.
Every year on September 15, we celebrate the foresight of Mason and the other Framers. Because of Mason’s courage, the people and the states have a way to propose the constitutional amendments Congress never will -- to limit federal power, impose fiscal restraints on Congress, and mandate term limits.
Fifteen states have followed Mason's lead to call for the first-ever Article V Convention of States, and over 5 million patriots have voiced their support. To join the movement, sign the petition below!
