by Douglass Romaine, DC
As a District Captain for Convention of States and in anticipation of having our COS resolution introduced and voted on by the Delaware General Assembly, a number of my fellow patriots and I prepared our testimony to share with the legislature.
On June 29th, 2023 our resolution was introduced in the Senate and assigned the number, SCR100. We have since found out that in Delaware resolutions do not get heard by a committee first. They go straight to a vote in the House or Senate. We do not yet know whether we will have the opportunity to give our testimony before the Delaware legislature.
Our team is posting some of our testimony here in hopes that others will understand the Article V process, research Convention of States and sign our petition. And maybe you will have an opportunity to give testimony to your legislature about why you support a Convention of States. Here is my testimony:
“My name is Douglass Romaine and I reside in Milton Delaware. As a supporter of the Convention of States, I’m here today to give an overview of the Article V process.
It begins with citizens petitioning their state government to pass a resolution calling for a convention. This resolution must be identical in each of the states in which it passes.
The resolution is proposed to a state’s House or Senate by a sponsor. Unlike a bill, at least in Delaware, a resolution does not first go to a committee but instead is passed directly to the floor of the Senate or House. It must be voted on and passed in each chamber.
Thirty-four states must complete a similar process. Once this is done, the United States Congress is required by the Constitution to call a Convention of States and choose a place and time where it will be held.
Currently nineteen states have passed the resolution and the resolution is currently being considered in the legislatures of another 7 states.
Once the convention is scheduled, the states will appoint and send their delegates to discuss, draft and propose amendments. Each state can send as many delegates as they wish but there will be only one vote per state.
After each of the amendments proposed is accepted individually by more than half the states at the convention, they are sent back to the states to be ratified individually.
Each amendment must be ratified by 3/4ths of the states which equals 38 states to become an amendment to the US Constitution. This means that it would take negative votes from only 13 states to stop an amendment from being added.
I ask that you vote to pass SCR 100 to add our great state of Delaware to the other states that are calling for a Convention of States. Thank you.
