Article V Convention of States



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Hey guys, I'm with an organization called "



"Literally in only the last week, resolutions were filed calling for a Convention of States to limit the power of the federal government in Massachusetts and New Hampshire (New England / Northeast), New Jersey (East), Virginia and South Carolina (South), Missouri (MidWest), North Dakota (North), Wyoming (West), Arizona (Southwest), and in Montana (Northwest)"



To start, if you are already aware of the Federal Govt's overreach of power, and are on board for an Article V convention, go ahead and sign our petition of 50,000 Americans ) If you aren't sure, read on!



We are approaching a crossroads.



One path leads to the escalating power of an irresponsible centralized government, ultimately resulting in the financial ruin of generations of Americans. The other path leads to the restoration of liberty and an American renaissance.



The correct path can be found within Article V of the United States Constitution.



"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate."



- Article V, U.S. Constitution





The Problem

We see four major abuses perpetrated by the federal government.



These abuses are not mere instances of bad policy. They are driving us towards an age of soft tyranny in which the government does not shatter mens wills but softens, bends, and guides them. If we do nothing to halt these abuses, we run the risk of becoming nothing more than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd. (Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1840)



1. The Spending and Debt Crisis



The $17 trillion national debt is staggering, but it only tells a part of the story. Under standard accounting practices, the federal government owes around $100 trillion more in vested Social Security benefits and other programs. This is why the government cannot tax its way out of debt. Even if it confiscated everything, it would not cover the debt.



2. The Regulatory Crisis



The federal bureaucracy has placed a regulatory burden upon businesses that is complex, conflicted, and crushing. Little accountability exists when agenciesrather than Congressenact the real substance of the law. Research from the American Enterprise Institute shows that since 1949, federal regulations have lowered the real GDP growth by 2% and made America 72% poorer.



3. Congressional Attacks on State Sovereignty



For years, Congress has been using federal grants to keep the states under its control. Combining these grants with federal mandates (which are rarely fully funded), Congress has turned state legislatures into their regional agencies rather than respecting them as truly independent republican governments.



A radical social agenda and an invasion of the rights of the people accompany all of this. While significant efforts have been made to combat this social erosion, these trends defy some of the most important principles.



4. Federal Takeover of the Decision-Making Process



The Founders believed that the structures of a limited government would provide the greatest protection of liberty. Not only were there to be checks and balances between the branches of the federal government, power was to be shared between the states and federal government, with the latter only exercising those powers specifically granted in the Constitution.



Collusion among decision-makers in Washington, D.C., has replaced these checks and balances. The federal judiciary supports Congress and the White House in their ever-escalating attack upon the jurisdiction of the fifty states.



We need to realize that the structure of decision-making matters. Who decides what the law shall be is as important as what is decided. The protection of liberty requires a strict adherence to the principle that power is limited and delegated.



Washington, D.C., does not believe this principle, as evidenced by an unbroken practice of expanding the boundaries of federal power. In a remarkably frank admission, the Supreme Court rebuffed a challenge to the federal spending power despite acknowledging that power had grown far beyond the bounds envisioned by the Founders:



This framework has been sufficiently flexible over the past two centuries to allow for enormous changes in the nature of government. The Federal Government undertakes activities today that would have been unimaginable to the Framers in two senses; first, because the Framers would not have conceived that any government would conduct such activities; and second, because the Framers would not have believed that the Federal Government, rather than the States, would assume such responsibilities. Yet the powers conferred upon the Federal Government by the Constitution were phrased in language broad enough to allow for the expansion of the Federal Governments role.



New York v. United States, 505 U.S. 144, 157 (1992).

What Does this Mean?



This is not a partisan issue. 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.



The problem is big, but we have a solution. Article V gives us a tool to fix the mess in D.C.



The following are examples of amendment topics that could be discussed at a convention of states:



A balanced budget amendment

A redefinition of the General Welfare Clause (the original view was the federal government could not spend money on any topic within the jurisdiction of the states)

A redefinition of the Commerce Clause (the original view was that Congress was granted a narrow and exclusive power to regulate shipments across state linesnot all the economic activity of the nation)

A prohibition of using international treaties and law to govern the domestic law of the United States

A limitation on using Executive Orders and federal regulations to enact laws (since Congress is supposed to be the exclusive agency to enact laws)

Imposing term limits on Congress and the Supreme Court

Placing an upper limit on federal taxation

Requiring the sunset of all existing federal taxes and a super-majority vote to replace them with new, fairer taxes





If you feel it necessary to sign on, please follow Edit: Before reading the following, first read the proposal to clear up and ambiguities, as I am still in the process of getting the right info in the right places of my text, in the right order.Hey guys, I'm with an organization called " Convention of States Project ", looking to find others who support an Article V restoration of the republic, through placing limits on the federal govt. I don't get paid at all, I don't get any rewards, I'm just trying to do my part here and help. I figured this would be a good place to post the petition, if it gets good feedback, hopefully have it moved to the general discussion. Our proposed amendments are at the bottom of the page for your viewing. 3 states have already passed the resolution, and 8 more have proposed to in their state legislatures:"Literally in only the last week, resolutions were filed calling for a Convention of States to limit the power of the federal government in Massachusetts and New Hampshire (New England / Northeast), New Jersey (East), Virginia and South Carolina (South), Missouri (MidWest), North Dakota (North), Wyoming (West), Arizona (Southwest), and in Montana (Northwest)"To start, if you are already aware of the Federal Govt's overreach of power, and are on board for an Article V convention, go ahead and sign our petition of 50,000 Americans here , supported on social media by over 210,000 Americans on Facebook and other social medias (maybe they should actually sign the petition?) If you aren't sure, read on!We are approaching a crossroads.One path leads to the escalating power of an irresponsible centralized government, ultimately resulting in the financial ruin of generations of Americans. The other path leads to the restoration of liberty and an American renaissance.The correct path can be found within Article V of the United States Constitution."The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate."- Article V, U.S. ConstitutionThe ProblemWe see four major abuses perpetrated by the federal government.These abuses are not mere instances of bad policy. They are driving us towards an age of soft tyranny in which the government does not shatter mens wills but softens, bends, and guides them. If we do nothing to halt these abuses, we run the risk of becoming nothing more than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd. (Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1840)1.The $17 trillion national debt is staggering, but it only tells a part of the story. Under standard accounting practices, the federal government owes around $100 trillion more in vested Social Security benefits and other programs. This is why the government cannot tax its way out of debt. Even if it confiscated everything, it would not cover the debt.2.The federal bureaucracy has placed a regulatory burden upon businesses that is complex, conflicted, and crushing. Little accountability exists when agenciesrather than Congressenact the real substance of the law. Research from the American Enterprise Institute shows that since 1949, federal regulations have lowered the real GDP growth by 2% and made America 72% poorer.3.For years, Congress has been using federal grants to keep the states under its control. Combining these grants with federal mandates (which are rarely fully funded), Congress has turned state legislatures into their regional agencies rather than respecting them as truly independent republican governments.A radical social agenda and an invasion of the rights of the people accompany all of this. While significant efforts have been made to combat this social erosion, these trends defy some of the most important principles.4.The Founders believed that the structures of a limited government would provide the greatest protection of liberty. Not only were there to be checks and balances between the branches of the federal government, power was to be shared between the states and federal government, with the latter only exercising those powers specifically granted in the Constitution.Collusion among decision-makers in Washington, D.C., has replaced these checks and balances. The federal judiciary supports Congress and the White House in their ever-escalating attack upon the jurisdiction of the fifty states.We need to realize that the structure of decision-making matters. Who decides what the law shall be is as important as what is decided. The protection of liberty requires a strict adherence to the principle that power is limited and delegated.Washington, D.C., does not believe this principle, as evidenced by an unbroken practice of expanding the boundaries of federal power. In a remarkably frank admission, the Supreme Court rebuffed a challenge to the federal spending power despite acknowledging that power had grown far beyond the bounds envisioned by the Founders:This framework has been sufficiently flexible over the past two centuries to allow for enormous changes in the nature of government. The Federal Government undertakes activities today that would have been unimaginable to the Framers in two senses; first, because the Framers would not have conceived that any government would conduct such activities; and second, because the Framers would not have believed that the Federal Government, rather than the States, would assume such responsibilities. Yet the powers conferred upon the Federal Government by the Constitution were phrased in language broad enough to allow for the expansion of the Federal Governments role.New York v. United States, 505 U.S. 144, 157 (1992).What Does this Mean?This is not a partisan issue. 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.The problem is big, but we have a solution. Article V gives us a tool to fix the mess in D.C.The following are examples of amendment topics that could be discussed at a convention of states:A balanced budget amendmentA redefinition of the General Welfare Clause (the original view was the federal government could not spend money on any topic within the jurisdiction of the states)A redefinition of the Commerce Clause (the original view was that Congress was granted a narrow and exclusive power to regulate shipments across state linesnot all the economic activity of the nation)A prohibition of using international treaties and law to govern the domestic law of the United StatesA limitation on using Executive Orders and federal regulations to enact laws (since Congress is supposed to be the exclusive agency to enact laws)Imposing term limits on Congress and the Supreme CourtPlacing an upper limit on federal taxationRequiring the sunset of all existing federal taxes and a super-majority vote to replace them with new, fairer taxesIf you feel it necessary to sign on, please follow this link, more information is available at the site.