Hi moms! Convention of States Michigan is here for you! Timeout with COS Moms! Grab your tea, coffee or cocktail! It’s time for your timeout!
Understanding our Constitution is a crucial civic function of teaching our kids. At its heart, it’s the moral, ethical and the true historic account of our country’s fabric and framework. Let’s arm ourselves with appreciation for these topics as we take our timeout together!
To start, we need to know what Article V is. You might already know that Article I lays out the legislative branch. Article II describes the executive branch, and Article III defines the judicial branch. Those are good to know, and we’ll talk more in depth about them in the coming weeks.
However, Article V is under-rated, little understood and was designed to be a crucially important part of the framework of our government.
Moms - you need to know Article V!
Article V is the section of the Constitution that explains how to amend the Constitution as needed. Thus far, there have been 27 amendments to the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights as the first 10. So far, all of these amendments have been passed and ratified using the first method of amendment prescribed in the Constitution.
The first method is this: Congress is allowed to propose amendments, pass their own resolutions, and have the amendment proposals then ratified by 2/3 of the states. Clearly, the federal government is included and leading that process.
Luckily, our framers also prescribed a second method of amendment. It is under this method that Convention of States Action is working to hold a national convention of the states. Article V also allows 3/4 of the state legislatures (the states) to come together, hold a national convention and propose their own amendments. Amendment proposals must then be ratified by 2/3 of the states (38 states).
This method of Constitutional amendment bypasses Congress and the rest of the federal government. It allows our independent and sovereign states to restrain the federal government when the federal government won’t restrain itself.
Watch this short video summarizing and explaining the historical context of Article V! See it here.
Convention of States Michigan is here to support our civic-minded moms! Find the support you need to instill civic virtue and responsibility in your children! Get started by signing our petition here.
Now you know, moms! Make sure your kids know too.
