One of our astute and true conservative members of this site has drafted suggested changes to the Constitution to be proposed in an Article V, Convention of States. I know many of you have seen his postings on here about this issue. Mr. Oren Long is very knowledgeable and well educated and has honorably served our country. He has put a tremendous amount of time and thought into ways to, in his words, "armor and reinforce" the Constitution and return it to its Original Intent, as envisioned by the Founders.

Therefore, because I agree with every one of his suggested changes, I am publishing it for him, with his permission. I truly hope that we, as a group, as conservatives and as a people who believe that our country is heading toward disaster, because of the course we are on, I fully endorse his recommended suggestions. I believe that we must take any and every course of action we can to “stop the madness”

It is quite long, so PLEASE take the time to read each and every one of them. I am sure that some or many, may have suggestions to this document and they are welcome and open to discussion. If you agree with this, please call your State elected officials and urge them to get on board with an Article V Convention of States.

To review or obtain more information of this process, please visit one of these sites:

http://www.conventionofstates.com/ ;

http://www.cosaction.com/

To Whom It May Concern,

The following is neither sanctioned by nor proposed by the Article V Convention of States Project. Rather, it is entirely my work as a volunteer for the Convention of States Project. To give you an overview of the kinds of amendments that may or may not be considered in an Article V Convention of States Convention.

The entire thrust of an Article V Convention of States is to consider, and possibly draft, amendments designed to limit the size, scope, power, and authority of the Federal Government and bring it back under the confines of those powers granted to it in the Constitution.

These are strictly my personal ideas and in no way purport to speak for the Convention of States Project. That said, I fully understand that, if introduced in Convention, they would be altered or improved as needed. At this point they are intended solely to stimulate discussion and debate. They are as follows:

NUMBER ONE:

"Section One: The Constitution of the United States shall be read and interpreted literally. No words or phrases shall be changed or substituted and no part of the Constitution shall be used to expand or increase Federal Power or Authority beyond that EXPRESSLY granted and enumerated in the Constitution. The language of the Constitution shall be interpreted according to the definition of words at the time of their inclusion in the Constitution.

Section Two: Congress shall have, by two thirds vote of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the power to override individual rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States and/or subordinate Federal Courts. The President shall not have veto authority over Congressional overrides of Federal Court decisions."

NUMBER TWO:

"Section One: No person shall be elected to Congress more than once unless serving in Congress at the time of the ratification of this amendment, in which case members of Congress shall be eligible for re-election to their respective seats one time.

Section Two: In the event the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is repealed members of the Senate of the United States shall serve at the pleasure and discretion of the Legislature of their respective State.

Section Three: Neither Congress, the President, nor any Federal Court shall make any law, rule, regulation, or order that does not apply equally to themselves and all citizens of the United States. Nor shall Congress, the President, or any Federal Court cause or allow any law, rule, regulation, or order to be made by any agent or agency of the Federal Government that does not apply equally to themselves and all citizens of the United States.

Section Four: Neither Congress nor the President shall receive any publically-funded retirement or benefit beyond appropriate pay not available to all citizens of the United States.

Section Five: Section Four shall not apply to members of Congress or Presidents, serving or retired, at the time of the ratification of this amendment.

Section Six: The President shall be subject to popular recall by his/her constituency. Within 90 days of the ratification of this amendment Congress shall pass legislation governing the recall of the President. In the event Congress fails to pass the required legislation within the required 90 days, the President shall be considered to have been recalled and a new election held within 60 days.

Section Seven: Members of Congress shall be subject to popular recall by their respective constituencies, unless the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is repealed, in which case only members of the House of Representatives shall be subject to popular recall. Within 90 days of the ratification of this amendment each State shall pass legislation governing the recall of its Congressional Delegation. In the event a State fails to pass the required legislation within the required 90 days, that State's Congressional Delegation shall be considered to have been recalled and new elections held within 60 days."

NUMBER THREE:

"Congress shall make and the President shall sign a Balanced Federal Budget every year and before the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year. In the event Congress and the President fail to make said Balanced Federal Budget before the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year, the last Constitutionally passed and signed Federal Budget shall go into effect and shall be the Federal Budget for the entirety of the ensuing fiscal year. Balanced shall be defined as expenditures not to exceed revenues except in time of war as declared by Congress. Revenues shall be defined as monies received; not monies predicted, anticipated, or forecasted. Unfunded liabilities, obligations, and/or mandates shall be included in the calculation of the Balanced Federal Budget."

NUMBER FOUR:

"The Fourteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States are hereby repealed. All Federal agencies, programs, laws, rules, regulations, and/or orders created, passed, or handed down as a direct or indirect result of the Fourteenth, Sixteenth, and/or Seventeenth Amendments are hereby stricken from Law, declared null and void, and have no force of effect."

NUMBER FIVE:

"Section One: Only persons born of two parents, both of whom are citizens of the United States at the time of the birth of the person, shall be citizens of the United States unless naturalized under the terms and conditions of the Constitution of the United States.

Section Two: Only United States Citizens shall enjoy or receive all rights, benefits, and privileges of United States Citizenship.

Section Three: Non-citizens shall not receive, directly or indirectly, Federal or Constitutional benefits, privileges, or protections."

NUMBER SIX:

"The several States are hereby empowered, individually or collectively, to enforce the Constitution of the United States and Federal Law, within their respective borders, regardless of Federal resistance or objections."

NUMBER SEVEN:

"Section One: The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States shall be interpreted to mean the FUNDAMENTAL right of individual citizens and/or groups of citizens to keep and bear arms; in their homes and/or other properties, in public and private, and on their persons.

Section Two: Non-citizens and persons convicted of a violent felony by a jury of their peers do not have this right."

NUMBER EIGHT:

"The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States shall not be interpreted to prohibit or restrict the peaceful, free exercise or expression of religion, in public or private, or in or on public property."

Thank you for taking the time to read the above. If you have any questions feel free to make comments or suggestion.

Oren Long