The following was written by Chris Pandolfo and originally published in the Conservative Review.
Citizens for Self-Governance (CSG) is taking its Article V Convention of States (COS) activism to college campuses with the launch of its first student club, at Hillsdale College.
“We believe that self-governance is a unifying approach to engage my generation in a discussion that transcends politics,” said Lucy Meckler, Club co-founder, in a press release. “If our Constitution gives us a legitimate way to fix the government why wouldn’t we use it? I want to be part of a solution that fosters real discussion and development of a successful America.”
Article V of the United States Constitution grants the states the power to petition Congress to call a convention where delegates from each state can propose amendments to the Constitution. Those amendments that are adopted by the convention must then be sent back to each of the 50 state legislatures and must be ratified by three-fourths of the states to be added to the Constitution. Convention of States activists believe the Article V process can be used to return the accumulated power of the federal government back to the states by imposing fiscal restraints on Congress, setting term limits for federal elected officials, and reining in the power of the federal judiciary, among other amendments. This new student club is joining an Article V effort more than 3.2 million people strong in grassroots activism to call a convention.
“Through the CSG connections, the two co-presidents plan to bring speakers to campus, interact with local and state legislators, make internship opportunities with COS available, and take students to lobby at the MI capital for topics such as COS,” the press release states.
“As the club grows and evolves, we hope to educate people about what it means to be self-governing, as well as the Convention of States movement and Article V—which is, I believe, the last best hope to redeem our government and preserve liberty for my generation and beyond,” Meckler said.
So far, 12 states have passed Article V resolutions: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. A total of 24 states are considering the Convention of States resolution.
