Why is Convention of States important for Louisiana?
Quite simply, we trust our local legislators more than we trust Washington, D.C., a sentiment foundational to the structure of the U.S. Constitution. The Founders were influenced by the writings of English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, who wrote on the principles of social compact and limited government. According to Hobbes,
“A plain husbandman is more prudent in the affairs of his own house than is the privy counselor in the affairs of another man.”
This statement could be rewritten to say, "A state legislator is more prudent in the affairs of his own state than is any official in Washington, D.C., in the affairs of said state."
As the Constitution was being drafted in the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the article on amendments (Article V) initially gave all the power to amend to the U.S. CONGRESS. However, as the Convention neared completion, Colonel George Mason brought to the attention of the delegates that a means should be put in place to allow “We The People” to propose amendments should Congress ever become the problem. As a result, on the unanimous vote of the delegates, the second clause of Article V was added to the Constitution, allowing the states to propose amendments at a convention.
Relying on that second part of Article V, a convention of the states can restore power to the states where you, as a Louisiana legislator, have the combination of motivation and knowledge to protect our freedom. Article V allows you, as legislators, to bypass Congress, the President, and the Judiciary in order to restrain the runaway federal government we now have.
It was Louisiana legislators who passed a resolution in 2016 saying our state would be one of the thirty-four states needed to call a convention of the states to propose amendments in three categories to restrain the federal government: 1. Fiscal restraints, 2. Reduction of the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and 3. Term limits for federal officials. So far, nineteen state legislatures have passed the same resolutions.
We are grateful that our state has passed this application. We know
that the Constitution never gave our federal government complete control over our lives. Article I Section 8 only gave the Congress limited powers over selected matters. The Tenth Amendment reserves all other powers to the States and the people.
As James Madison wrote in 1788 in Federalist No. 45:
“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”
Thank you for your service to our state. Please continue to support the Convention of States.
Julie Sandifer, State Director, Louisiana Convention of States Action, Baton Rouge (225.266.5818)
Dale Clary, Legislative Liaison, Louisiana Convention of States Action, Prairieville (225.572.3290)
