Title: Conversation of States

Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/conversation-of-states|conversation-of-states]]

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Created: 2023-03-06 12:17:14

Updated: 2023-03-13 03:00:00

Published: 2023-03-06 00:00:00

Converted: 2025-04-14T21:23:27.210155571


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How often have you heard it declared by media figures, academics, diversity training facilitators, politicians, and just about anyone else who holds sway in our upside-down culture that "we need to have a conversation about" this or that aspect of life? 

Name the topic and one is bound to hear somebody say a conversation (even a "national conversation") must be initiated in order to establish economic progress, equity, or social justice. 

So why are so many people opposed to having a conversation about our broken federal government?

As those of us involved with Convention of States Action have come to know all too well, a myriad of groups and individuals have aligned to not only oppose activating Article V to call a Convention of States, but to smear supporters, spread lies about the process and intent of a convention, and quash conversation.

As has been demonstrated in several states via academic inquiry, legislative testimony, COS volunteer-led meetings and events, letters to editors and op-eds, a Convention of States is essentially a conversation among states -- a national conversation, if you will. 

A convention is a limited-purpose gathering to discuss and propose amendments to the Constitution that limit the power and scope of the federal government. 

Those discussions and debates will likely include topics such as term-limiting individuals in the U.S. Congress, setting budget boundaries, shrinking the gargantuan federal bureaucracy, and perhaps even how to reform or alter a federal judiciary that has exceeded its constitutional charge.

Those discussions and debates will likely be robust. As in any honest discussion of significance, there will be disagreement. 

The discussions may yield a raft of proposed amendments to the Constitution, a few, or none at all. Any amendments that do emerge will have two characteristics: They will be crafted and written to limit the federal government in some way, and they will be sent to the legislatures of the several states for more discussion and possible ratification. 

A convention of the states is incapable of altering the Constitution of the United States in any way, shape, or form. The Constitution cannot be amended unless 38 state legislatures agree to do so.

A convention of the states is not a constitutional convention. It is a conversation about the Constitution and the course of this Republic.

Why would anyone want to prevent such a discussion?

Those who spread falsehood and fear about a convention "running away" and striking down the Bill of Rights or other horrors are themselves attempting to stifle open conversation. They are doing so without presenting alternatives of their own. 

To add your voice to the conversation and the effort to stop a runaway federal government, [[http://www.conventionofstates.com|sign the petition and get involved.]]