UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION’s ARTICLE V CONVENTION OF STATES

Jeff Hogan, November 2, 2014, deltanorthfork@gmail.com, 970-417-4165

The ultimate legal restriction on all three branches of government has been effectively abolished since the days of Theodore Roosevelt. That tiny document, the United States Constitution, granted Government very limited powers, but adequate for the protection of our unalienable liberties as defined in the Declaration of Independence. The abuse of the Constitution by Government coincides with the evaporation of our culture of liberty, morality and individual sovereignty.

“Washington, D.C., will never voluntarily relinquish meaningful power—no matter who is elected. The only rational conclusion is this: unless some political force outside of Washington, D.C., intervenes, the federal government will continue to bankrupt this nation, embezzle the legitimate authority of the states, and destroy the liberty of the people. Rather than securing the blessings of liberty for future generations, Washington, D.C., is on a path that will enslave our children and grandchildren to the debts of the past.” Senator Tom Coburn

Congress has become a dynastic ruling class, legislating as if their authority was unlimited, often forcing the states to relinquish their Constitutional rights. They’ve balanced the budget 5 times in 55 years. The lawless Executive Branch is issuing endless overreaching Executive Orders, violating religious freedom, releasing illegal alien criminals and rapists from prison, refusing to secure our borders, not conducting adequate counterterrorism and discouraging domestic energy development. And worst of all, the lifetime appointed Supreme Court has repeatedly failed to enforce the original intent of the Constitution.

The only solution is that provided by the Constitution itself in Article V. The founders provided a powerful way for State Legislatures to reign-in government. A Convention of States is convened when 34 state legislatures pass resolutions (applications) on an agreed topic or set of topics. The Convention is limited to considering amendments on these specified topics.

State Senators and Representatives have to prioritize resolving this Constitutional emergency. http://www.conventionofstates.com/solution   State Legislatures are sworn to uphold the Constitution and are obligated to defend the rights of the people and win back the sovereign authority of the states.  

The nationwide Article V movement is led by the national Citizens for Self Government. http://www.conventionofstates.com/national_leadership But this movement is also intentionally driven by dozens of volunteers in every state of the union who will be recruiting hundreds of citizens to compel their state representatives to draft a Convention of States application.

The JEFFERSON STATEMENT, drafted September 11, 2014 by former members of the Reagan Administration, seasoned Supreme Court litigators and Ivy League professors, captures the essence of Article V.

The Constitution’s Framers foresaw a day when the federal government would exceed and abuse its enumerated powers, thus placing our liberty at risk. George Mason was instrumental in fashioning a mechanism by which "we the people" could defend our freedom—the ultimate check on federal power contained in Article V of the Constitution.

Article V provides the states with the opportunity to propose constitutional amendments through a process called a Convention of States. This process is controlled by the states from beginning to end on all substantive matters.

A Convention of States is convened when 34 state legislatures pass resolutions (applications) on an agreed topic or set of topics. The Convention is limited to considering amendments on these specified topics.

While some have expressed fears that a Convention of States might be misused or improperly controlled by Congress, it is our considered judgment that the checks and balances in the Constitution are more than sufficient to ensure the integrity of the process.

The Convention of States mechanism is safe, and it is the only constitutionally effective means available to do what is so essential for our nation—restoring robust federalism with genuine checks on the power of the federal government.

We share the Founders’ conviction that proper decision-making structures are essential to preserve liberty. We believe that the problems facing our nation require several structural limitations on the exercise of federal power. While fiscal restraints are essential, we believe the most effective course is to pursue reasonable limitations, fully in line with the vision of our Founders, on the federal government.

Accordingly, we endorse the Convention of States Project, which calls for an Article V Convention for "the sole purpose of proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress." http://www.conventionofstates.com/the_jefferson_statement

Please join us today and invite everyone you know to share in this fantastic venture of liberty. The resources below will equip you to promote Convention of States.

Why the Convention of States Will Succeed

http://www.conventionofstates.com/succeed

How to Volunteeer with Convention of States

http://www.conventionofstates.com/volunteer

Colorado Convention of States Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/COSProjectCO

State Legislatures Article V Caucus

http://articlevcaucus.com/

Handbook for Legislatures and Citizens

https://conventionofstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/COS-Handbook-3.0-Online.pdf

Application for a Convention of States

http://conventionofstates.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Application-for-a-Convention-of-States-v.5.pdf

Convention of States Debate Videos

http://www.conventionofstates.com/tags/videos

Michael Farris vs Bob Marshall debate video

https://conventionofstates.com/watch-michael-farris-debate-delegate-bob-marshall/

Rebuttals to arguments against Article V

http://www.conventionofstates.com/responses_to_convention_of_states_opposition

Short Video Proving Why We'll Never Gain a Constitution-Adhering Majority in the Senate or the House

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3sL2ATSoAI&channel=UCK8DVVhA07L98kbiEQ-cReQ