The following is an excerpt from an article written by Christopher Conover of Arizona Public Media.
Article 5 of the U.S. Constitution allows states to call a convention to propose amendments to the Constitution.
Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2003 would allow the state to participate in such a convention.
State Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, wants the convention to draft a balanced budget amendment. She also said at a hearing by the House Committee on Federalism and States' Rights she is worried that the Congress and the president are overstepping their legal bounds.
“We don’t have the freedoms we used to have,” Townsend said in a Wednesday committee debate. “They are not following the sovereignty of the states, they are not acknowledging the sovereignty of the states, the sovereignty of the family, the sovereignty of the person. And all we acknowledge now and accept is the sovereignty of the federal government.”
The resolution passed on a 5-3 vote.
Note: Mr. Conover's use of the term "constitutional convention" is incorrect. We stress the fact that Article V does not allow for a "constitutional convention" to rewrite the Constitution; rather, it allows for an "amending convention" to amend certain aspects of the document. Though there are still members of the media who fail to realize the importance of this distinction, we're continually working to educate and inform all who come in contact with our organization.
