Title: The 'Runaway Convention' Myth Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/the-runaway-convention-myth|the-runaway-convention-myth]] Login Required to view? No Created: 2023-03-19 17:30:08 Updated: 2023-05-31 03:00:01 Published: 2023-03-19 02:00:00 Converted: 2025-04-14T21:23:42.302007824 ---- Those opposed to using Article V of the U.S. Constitution to restore federalism insist that an Article V convention for proposing amendments is a 'constitutional convention.' It is very important to know the difference; words matter, particularly the words of those who authored the Constitution. This deliberate mischaracterization serves two purposes:\\ \\ 1. It allows opponents to paint this limited process as an open process that can totally rewrite the Constitution.\\ \\ 2. It allows them to further distort history by saying "because the 1787 constitutional convention was a runaway, this constitutional convention has the potential to run away."\\ \\ Both premises are incorrect and are designed to sew fear into the hearts of otherwise patriotic citizens. An Article V convention for proposing amendments is NOT a 'constitutional convention' and the 1787 constitutional convention was NOT a runaway.\\ \\ This post will focus on the ‘runaway convention’ myth.\\ \\ The runaway myth relies on either a misunderstanding or a deliberate rewrite of history. Opponents say that the 1787 convention was only to amend the Articles of Confederation and that the commissioners ignored the commissions from their states and they wrote a whole new document.\\ \\ Opponents have a schizophrenic view of the authors of the Constitution. On one hand, they admire the honorable, wise, and divinely inspired men who were able to produce such a document. On the other hand, they imply these same men were treasonous because they ignored the instructions from their states. In effect, they have to believe the Constitution is fraudulent and was illegitimately adopted.  If so, why did the states ratify it? Something to ponder - if the authors of the Constitution were divinely inspired, did God work through dishonor and deception for the end result? Of course not – God doesn’t work that way.\\ \\ To know the truth one simply has to look at the instructions these men were given by their states. Ten states had variations of this language in their commissions: “devising and discussing all such alterations and further provisions, as may be necessary to render the Federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of the Union.”\\ \\ Exigencies mean an urgent requirement or a pressing need. They had the authority to do what was necessary to form a functioning government in order to preserve the Union.\\ \\ Two states gave their commissioners the instructions to amend the Articles of Confederation. The commissioners from these states either didn’t vote or sought further instructions from their states. \\ \\ The Confederation Congress had both instructions in their ‘opinion’ and were simply agreeing that the convention should be held. They had no authority under the Articles of Confederation to call the convention nor to give instructions to the commissioners, they simply weighed in saying it was a good idea for the convention to be called. \\ \\ At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, the honorable, wise, divinely inspired men did exactly what they were authorized to do. The convention did not ‘run away.' In fact, there is not a single example of a convention of the states running away in the 42 documented conventions in our history – click **[[https://conventionofstates.com/news/conventional-disinformation|HERE]]** for additional information about other conventions of colonies/states in our history.\\ \\ Those who perpetuate this myth are working to subvert this constitutional process and maintain the status quo in D.C.  [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQm78XWXPkk|Mark Meckler & Rick Green on The Runaway Myth]]