Article V Unleashed: A Citizen’s History Of Constitutional Change

Article V of the United States Constitution says:

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.

Since 1787, 49 States have submitted 450 applications to Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments. Some of these have been rescinded by the State, and some have been rendered moot because of the 17th and 22nd amendments proposed by congress and ratified by three quarters of the States. There remain 164 applications from 40 States active and in force. When two thirds of the States make an application, Congress has no choice but to call a convention for proposing amendments. Two thirds of fifty States would be 34, and 40 is greater than 34, so Congress is in dereliction of its mandatory duty in the Constitution to call a convention.

Why has Congress not done so? What has prompted every State except Hawaii to tell Congress to call a convention? Something is dramatically wrong with the relationship between the States and the Congress. The Federal Government has exceeded its constitutional authority and it is up to the States or We the People to force the beast back into its Constitutional cage. I hope this book will show how people being more active in pressuring State Legislatures to unleash their Article V power can accomplish this great purpose.