One of the most common fears about the success of an Article V convention is the reliability and faithfulness of the representatives sent by the states to the national convention.
Even active COS volunteers express concerns that a convention could be dangerous. What if delegates turn out to be corrupt? They might be bought by special interest groups. They may have a secret and contrary agenda. What if they run amok?
In the Florida SLACK Random channel on May 14, 2021, one activist brought up this exact issue. The thread that followed provided a wealth of information which is briefly summarized here.
First of all, what does COS say about delegates? That’s easy, one member suggested we consult the COS FAQ page.
Who elects commissioners?
Each state decides and defines the process in its own legislation. Each state also describes the process of oversight and consequences for representatives who fail to faithfully represent their state.
The next issue that came up was ‘what does our Florida Statute actually say about delegates?’ On April 21, 2014, Florida became the third state to pass the COS Article V resolution. To read the statute about delegates go to flsenate.gov and look for Title 3, Chapter 11, section 93.
While describing various ways to allay concerns about unfaithful representatives, a side debate about the interchangeable use of titles “delegate” versus “commissioner” took center stage.
“By the way, the proper term is commissioner, not delegate. Commissioners are sent to the convention with a commission from their state legislature. The commission includes instruction for the commissioners. The instructions are passed by the state legislature at the time the convention is called.” Rodney Huckleberry
Regardless of what people call them, commissioners or delegates, each state only gets one vote at the convention. Another check on the scruples of commissioners is the fact that 38 states must agree and vote on a proposed amendment.
Other Objections
Some people believe that an Article V convention could change the whole constitution and may be a sneaky way to alter Second Amendment gun rights. Mark Meckler offers several entertaining examples of how to be friendly, not confrontational, when talking with skeptics, in COS 200 Responding to Opposition and also COS LL200 Influencing Your Legislator (especially in module 2, part 1).
In September 2016 commissioners from all 50 states participated in a simulated Article V convention in Colonial Williamsburg. The six-hour video recording of the rehearsal convention of states demonstrates how orderly and respectful an interstate convention is compared to the chaos of a political party convention.
Get Smart
There is no need to stress about unknown details of how a convention will work because educational resources are at your fingertips. COS meetings are congenial and educational. SLACK is like any other social media (only better) once you get the hang of it.
The best way to learn a topic is to teach it. Be sure to sign up using the form below and check the volunteer interest box. As a volunteer you will gain access to more courses in COS University. Arm yourself with COS facts and go practice recruiting your friends. We need your help to grow this grassroots army. Let's educate every American citizen about his/her US Constitution!
