Learn About Article V of the U.S. Constitution

Here is what a convention under Article V of the Constitution is not:

It is not a means to overthrow or dismantle the Constitution. The convention’s powers are well defined and Article V’s language is clear, it can only propose amendments to “this“ Constitution. Thirty-eight states must then ratify any proposed amendment, a daunting task indeed.

It is not the same thing as a “constitutional convention.” In fact, there is no provision for such a convention, so it will never happen. Those who argue otherwise are either ignorant or have a stake in maintaining our corrupted political system.

It is not possible to have a “runaway” convention with unlimited power. If an Article V convention somehow did run amok, as some fear, it has no authority to order the President, military or courts to do anything. Beyond any proposed amendments sent for ratification, such a convention would simply be ignored.

It is not the same thing as the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The American Revolution was over militarily, but not politically. The Articles of Confederation were a dismal failure, and the Revolution’s leaders knew it. The convention was not composed of a bunch of crackpots, instead, leading figures such as Washington, Madison, Franklin, etc. attended. The convention was charged with proposing a fix to the Articles, but it was apparent early on that an entirely new Constitution was needed. A brilliant document was hammered out, sent to Congress, which approved it and sent it to the states for ratification. Nine state ratifications were needed to make it the supreme law only within those states that ratified it. Eventually, all thirteen states ratified it. The 1787 constitutional convention was an extralegal body, it had no power or authority. It did not make Congress or the states do anything. It simply produced a document that the states accepted and brought a political end to the Revolution. That convention’s proposals could have been ignored by Congress and the states. An Article V convention is a legal body with its authority limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution.

It is not something alien to the Constitution. When some argue against an Article V convention, they say things like “We need to follow the Constitution, not destroy it, etc.” Article V is the Constitution. By authorizing a means for the states to circumvent a corrupted federal government, it puts teeth into the Tenth Amendment. When one takes an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution, they can’t pick what parts to preserve and protect. The Constitution is a complete document, and the convention clause of Article V is part of it. It must be preserved and protected, not feared and avoided.

It is not a power to be feared, but embraced and used, urgently. The Constitution’s framers would ask us why we failed to use the mechanism they provided to prevent a tyrannical Congress. Hundreds of applications from the states prove their legislatures haven’t been afraid of it. Presidents Reagan, Eisenhower and Lincoln all supported an Article V convention.

It is not a “too extreme” solution for fixing Congress. It is supposed to be the agent of the people. Instead, careerism and the endless war between the Democratic and Republican parties have corrupted its purpose. Elections are supposed to give the people a means to force reform, but that power is destroyed. The congressional electoral system is no more than a sham used to validate incumbency. How effective have the two major parties locked down the system? In every election well over 80% (usually it’s over 90%!) of non-retiring members of Congress are returned to Washington. In my home state of North Carolina alone, there has not been an independent or third party candidate on a congressional ballot since 1929! How have they done this? Through gerrymandering, restrictive ballot access rules and the commanding power incumbency has over campaign money, they have thoroughly corrupted the congressional electoral process. The Founders predicted federal tyranny and is the primary reason why they included the convention clause in Article V!

It is not a body to be feared. We should fear Congress far more than an Article V convention. Look what Congress has done to the country so far. They have brought ruin to this nation by selling us out to foreign nations and have fiscally demolished the country. Instead of governing, they waste the people’s time and money in their endless two-party war. We have come to serve the needs of members of Congress, not the other way around.

Okay, so now we know pretty well what it’s not, so what is it? For one thing, it is more than worthy of consideration as one possible solution. It is Constitutional law that some, like The Friends of an Article V Convention (FOAVC.org), believe is being violated by Congress. They argue that based on the language within Article V, the 2/3 of the states application requirement has long ago been met. That Congress has not called for a convention is, for some, nothing short of Constitutional treason! The Framers knew what they were doing when they wrote Article V, so we must not be afraid of it.

It is the only constitutional hope the American people have of saving their republic. Eventually this truth will become apparent, but by then it might be too late for America. It may already be too late, but I don’t believe that. I’m convinced that it is a safe, powerful and viable tool to restore a citizen’s legislature. My love of country compels me to share what I have learned and to implore you to look into it further and from as many angles as possible. That’s why my website links to those who both support and oppose an Article V convention.