A handful of Arizona lawmakers are taking the national lead on planning a party 230 years in the making.

They've invited leaders from around the country to join them in planning the next convention to tweak the U.S. Constitution. (Yes,similar to the one George Washington led in Philadelphia in 1787 to create the U.S. government.)

Specifically, it is planning for an Article 5 or Amendments Convention, which organizers say allows for amendments to the U.S. Constitition but doesn't open the underlying document for changes.

The Arizona planning convention will be led by Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, and Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, with a strong assist from House Speaker J.D. Mesnard.

It's scheduled for Sept. 12 at the Arizona Capitol.

“Not only will this historic convention lay the groundwork for a desperately needed Balanced Budget Amendment at the federal level, but it will also provide Arizona the opportunity to shine nationally," Townsend said in a statement. "I couldn’t be more excited to start our work.”

Arizona lawmakers this session passed two measures related to the constitutional convention.

House Concurrent Resolution 2010 squeaked through on a revote. As a resolution, it is essentially a postcard to Congress asking them nicely to call a convention and propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution increasing their own fiscal restraints, decreasing their power and setting shorter term limits.

And if Congress ignores it (which they pretty much have so far), then the states will try to do it themselves.

The Legislature also narrowly passed House Bill 2226, and Gov. Doug Ducey signed it into law.

It allows Arizona to join the other states calling for a Convention of States and proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that requires Congress to pass a balanced budget. For this convention to happen, 34 states must agree to participate.

There are competing theories on how many states have already voted. Arizona is among a dozen that have passed nearly identical proposals. But more than a dozen more have passed various versions of legislation calling for conventions over the centuries. So the total, according to some, could be as high as 27.

Either way, Arizona isn't waiting around for other states to get on board.

This summer, Republican lawmakers announced they will host what is basically a convention to plan THE convention.

The biggest concern among those who oppose this idea, including some conservative Arizona lawmakers, is that once a convention is called, states aren't limited to dealing with the balanced-budget issue.

They could change anything they want in the U.S. Constitution.

But supporters say that's the point of the Phoenix meeting: to set the rules for convention.

Stay tuned.

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