Title: New Hampshire's Constitution drafters supported Article V
Original CoS Document (slug): new-hampshire-s-constitution-drafters-supported-article-v
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Created: 2022-06-15 11:14:11
Updated: 2022-06-22 03:00:00
Published: 2022-06-15 02:00:00
Converted: 2025-03-29T14:53:22.552550700
When people you speak to are unsure of the necessity of Article V in the U.S. Constitution, you can remind them of George Mason's question.
When the U.S. Constitution was being drafted, he asked what happens when the federal government runs away with power? There in the chambers was a mic drop situation – they all unanimously agreed that they needed to write in the second part of Article V:55610_original.jpeg?
“…or on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments.”
NH Constitution drafters realized the same need on the State level. They wrote Article 100 in Part Two- Form of Government.
“[Art.] 100. [Alternate Methods of Proposing Amendments.] Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by the general court or by a constitutional convention selected as herein provided.
(a) The senate and house of representatives, voting separately, may propose amendments by a three fifths vote of the entire membership of each house at any session.
(b) The general court, by an affirmative vote of a majority of all members of both houses voting separately, may at any time submit the question “Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?” to the qualified voters of the state. If the question of holding a convention is not submitted to the people at some time during any period of ten years, it shall be submitted by the secretary of state at the general election in the tenth year following the last submission. If a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question of holding a convention approves it, delegates shall be chosen at the next regular general election, or at such earlier time as the legislature may provide, in the same manner and proportion as the representatives to the general court are chosen. The delegates so chosen shall convene at such time as the legislature may direct and may recess from time to time and make such rules for the conduct of their convention as they may determine.
© The constitutional convention may propose amendments by a three fifths vote of the entire membership of the convention.
Each constitutional amendment proposed by the general court or by a constitutional convention shall be submitted to the voters by written ballot at the next biennial November election and shall become a part of the Constitution only after approval by two thirds of the qualified voters present and voting on the subject in the towns, wards, and unincorporated places.
September 5, 1792. Question of calling a convention to be submitted every 7 years.
Amended 1964 twice changing submission of question on calling a convention to every 10 years rather than 7 and providing that the general court could propose amendments.
Amended 1980 twice incorporating provisions of repealed Art. 99 and requiring all proposals be submitted at the next biennial November election.”
This November 8, 2022, we will see that question on our ballot:
“Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?”
So not only do we get to now sign the petition to call an Article V convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution, we also get to decide how we want to vote on our NH ballot!
You decide!
