Title: Convention of States Article V Pocket Guide
Original CoS Document (slug): convention-of-states-handbook-for-legislators-and-citizens
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Attached File: COSA_PocketGuide_2023_eversion.pdf
The Convention of States Article V Pocket Guide provides all the need-to-know information for state legislators and citizens interested in learning more about the Article V process in general and the Convention of States in particular. Updated October 2023
Created: 2017-07-06 07:08:52
Updated: 2023-12-20 12:27:06
Published: 2017-07-17 16:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T19:21:35.439175924
ARTICLE V CONVENTION
POCKET GUIDE
The Founders’ Constitutional Plan for
WE THE PEOPLE
to Secure America’s Future
**www.ConventionOfStates.com**
ARTICLE V CONVENTION
POCKET GUIDE
The Founders’ Constitutional Plan for
WE THE PEOPLE
to Secure America’s Future
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
CONVENTION of STATES
3
04 Who Decides?
A Message from COSA President Mark Meckler
08 The Problem
Why an Article V Convention?
14 Article V of the U.S. Constitution
What the Founders Said About an Article V Convention
18 Support for an Article V Convention
Endorsements from Notable Leaders
25 Answers to Common Questions
Find the Answers You Need Quickly
30 Overcoming Objections from the Opposition
Cut Through the Misinformation—Get the Facts Here
36 Convention of States Model Application
The Text of the Article V Convention Application
37 Amendments to Consider at a Convention of States
Potential Amendments to Be Debated at a Convention
39 Simulated Article V Convention
A Trial Run of the Convention for State Commissioners
41 About Convention of States Action (COSA)
The COSA Organization and Grassroots Army
41 Core Values of COSA
The Values that Guide Our Mission
45 Get Involved in Making History
What You Can Do to Help
49 Convention of States Petition
Read, Sign, and Share the Petition
Contents
WHO DECIDES? A Message from COSA President Mark Meckler
4
Mark & Patty Meckler
CONVENTION of STATES
5
Who Decides?
A MESSAGE FROM
COSA PRESIDENT MARK MECKLER
WHO DECIDES what’s best for you and your family?
Should you have the power to decide?
Or should some out-of-touch bureaucrat in Washington,
D.C., have the power to decide?
It’s time we shift the national conversation away from
what government should do to “fix” our problems.
It’s time we decide for ourselves whether the federal
government should be involved at all in matters that
affect us personally.
No matter the political issue of the day, the establish-
ment in Washington loves to deliberate on what they
will do.
They want the American people to ponder, “What will
they decide?”
What will Congress decide about health care? Taxes?
Education? Fiscal responsibility?
Instead of focusing on the better question:
Who decides?
6
WHO DECIDES? A Message from COSA President Mark Meckler
Should the government decide what to do about your
health care, or should you and your doctor decide? Should
D.C. bureaucrats decide what to do about education, or
should you, your spouse, and your children's teachers
decide? Should nine Supreme Court justices decide what
constitutes a marriage, or should you, your community,
and your state decide?
If you're anything like me, the answer is obvious. It's
the same answer our Founding Fathers gave when they
drafted the Constitution: we the people should decide,
not some far-off, disconnected government run by
out-of-touch elites.
The truth is the Washington establishment will never,
ever limit its own power. We just can't rely on the
politicians who got us into this mess to get us out of it.
We need a solution that will let us go around the
Washington political establishment and rein in the
out-of -control federal government, permanently.
CONVENTION of STATES
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Here at Convention of States Action, we are implementing
the solution with the help of a vast family of grassroots
patriots just like you.
This solution was hidden in plain sight in Article V of
the Constitution, and it's our best and last chance to take
the power back from the out-of-control politicians in
Washington and safeguard our liberty once and for all.
The booklet you hold in your hands contains our
Founding Fathers' antidote and cure for what ails
our country.
Take it, read it, and use it as you talk with your friends
and family members about this constitutional solution to
restore our great nation.
Yours in the fight,
Mark Meckler
President
Convention of States Action
SECTION TITLE
8
We see four major abuses against the people by the federal
government. These abuses are not mere instances of bad
policy. The federal government has been subjecting us to
“soft tyranny” in which the government does not (yet)
shatter all men’s wills but regularly “softens, bends, and
guides” them.
CONVENTION of STATES
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The Problem
WHY AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION?
WASHINGTON, D.C., WILL NEVER
voluntarily relinquish its own power, no matter
who is elected. The only rational conclusion
is this: unless some political force outside of
Washington, D.C., intervenes, the federal
government will continue to bankrupt this
nation, embezzle the legitimate authority
of the states, and destroy the liberty
of the people. Rather than securing
the blessings of liberty for future
generations, Washington, D.C.,
is on a path that will enslave our
children and grandchildren to the
debts of the past.
We see four major abuses
against the people by the federal
government. These abuses are
not mere instances of bad policy. The federal
government has been subjecting us to “soft tyranny” in
which the government does not (yet) shatter all men's wills
but regularly “softens, bends, and guides” them. If we do
nothing to halt these abuses, we run the risk of becoming
nothing more than “a flock of timid and industrious
animals, of which the government is the shepherd.”
(Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1840)
alexis
de tocqueville,
french
historian
10
THE PROBLEM: WHY AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION?
The Spending and Debt Crisis
America's $33 trillion (and counting) national debt is
staggering, but it
only tells a part of the
story. Under standard
accounting practices,
the federal government
actually owes about
$150 trillion in vested
Social Security benefits
and other programs,
according to Truth
in Accounting. The
government cannot
tax its way out of debt.
Even if the government
taxed at 100 percent
and confiscated
everything, it wouldn't
cover the mountain
of debt that we have
already accumulated!
The Regulatory Crisis
The federal bureaucracy has placed a regulatory
burden upon businesses that is complex, conflicted,
and crushing. Little accountability exists when
agencies—rather than Congress—enact the real
substance of the law. Current research shows the
annual cost of compliance at about $2 trillion,
Even if the government taxed
at 100 percent and confiscated
everything, it wouldn’t cover
the mountain of debt that we
have already accumulated!
CONVENTION of STATES
11
roughly equal to all income and corporate taxes
combined! Worse, the growth-killing effects of
regulation have shrunk economic growth by 25
percent, or $4 trillion per year.
Congressional Attacks on
State Authority
For years, Congress has been using federal grants to
keep the states under its control. Combining these
grants with federal mandates (which are rarely fully
funded), Congress has turned state legislatures into
their regional agencies rather than respecting them as
truly independent republican governments.
A radical social agenda and an invasion of the rights
of the people accompany all of this. While significant
efforts have been made to combat this social erosion,
these trends defy some of the most important founding
principles of federalism and self-governance.
Federal Takeover of the Decision-
Making Process
The Founders believed that the structures of a limited
government would provide the greatest protection of
liberty. Not only were there to be checks and balances
between the branches of the federal government,
power was to be delineated between the states and
federal government. The latter was to exercise only
12
THE PROBLEM: WHY AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION?
those “few and defined” powers specifically granted
in the Constitution, while the states’ powers were left
“broad and undefined.”
Collusion among decision-makers in Washington, D.C.,
has replaced these checks and balances. The federal
judiciary supports Congress and the White House in
their ever-escalating attack upon the jurisdiction of
the 50 states.
We need to realize that the structure of decision-making
matters. Who decides what the law will be is even more
important than what is decided. The protection of liberty
requires a strict adherence to the principle that the power
of the federal government is limited and enumerated.
For years, Congress has been using federal
grants to keep the states under its control.
Combining these grants with federal mandates
(which are rarely fully funded), Congress has
turned state legislatures into their regional
agencies rather than respecting them as truly
independent republican governments.
CONVENTION of STATES
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Washington, D.C., does not believe this principle, as
evidenced by an unbroken practice of expanding the
boundaries of federal power.
The problems are big, but we have a solution as big as
those problems. Article V gives us the tool the Founders
intended for us to use to fix the mess in D.C.
Article V of the Constitution is our best chance—and our
last chance—to take the power back from the out-of-control
politicians and bureaucrats in Washington and safeguard
our liberty once and for all.
And when the Article V convention convenes, Congress and
the Washington bureaucracy will be powerless to stop it.
SECTION TITLE
14
Thank God that the Founders were wise enough to give
us the second clause of Article V…They had experienced
the heavy hand of a tyrannical government. They
foresaw a time in the future when such a mechanism
would be necessary. Now is that time.
CONVENTION of STATES
15
Article V
OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
Article V of the Constitution of the United States reads
as follows:
“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; Provided that no
Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One
thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner
affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section
of the first Article; and that no State, without its
Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage
in the Senate.”
16
ARTICLE V OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
The history of Article V from the 1787 Convention:
“On September 15, as the Convention was reviewing
the revisions made by the Committee of Style, George
Mason expressed opposition to the provisions limiting
the power to propose amendments to Congress.
According to the Convention records, Mason thought
that 'no Amendment of the proper kind would ever
be obtained by the people, if the Government should
become oppressive, as he verily believed would be
the case.' In response, Gouverneur Morris and
Elbridge Gerry made a motion to amend the article
“No amendment of the proper
kind would ever be obtained by
the people, if the government
should become oppressive.”
— george mason
CONVENTION of STATES
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to reintroduce language requiring that a convention
be called when two-thirds of the States applied for
an amendment.” [30 Harvard Journal of Law and
Public Policy 1005, 1007 (2007)]
Thank God that the Founders were wise enough to give
us the second clause of Article V. Their decision was
unanimous. The Framers had very little debate about
this—and they debated almost everything—because they
knew human nature. They had experienced the heavy
hand of a tyrannical government. They foresaw a time in
the future when such a mechanism would be necessary.
Now is that time.
18
SUPPORT FOR AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION
Support
FOR AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION
MARK LEVIN
“I have wholeheartedly
endorsed the Convention of
States Project. I serve on its
Legal Board of Reference
because they propose a solution
as big as the problem.”
SEN. RAND PAUL
“I support the Convention
of States Project to restore
the original constitutional
limits on federal power
by calling a limited
Convention to propose
amendments to rein in
our out -of-control federal
government.”
CONVENTION of STATES
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GOV. RON DESANTIS
“The permanent
bureaucracy will never
voluntarily give up an
ounce of its power. …I
encourage all other state
legislatures to support
the Convention of States
Project and pass the
resolution today.”
SEAN HANNITY
“There’s a solution in our
Constitution. We have the
power to call a Convention
of States to restrain the size,
the power, the scope, and
the jurisdiction of the federal
government. If you’re serious
about saving the nation, this
is the best way to do it. Join
the constitutional revolution with Convention of
States Project.”
20
SUPPORT FOR AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION
LT. COL. ALLEN WEST
“Thank goodness the Founders
had the wisdom to provide us
with Article V of the Constitution,
which gives us the right and
power to hold an Amending
Convention for the purpose of
proposing amendments to restrain
the scope and power of the federal
government… Under the system
of federalism, I support the efforts to gather a constitutional
Convention of States consistent with Article V and honoring
the 10th Amendment.”
DR. JAMES DOBSON
“I encourage every American
to visit conventionofstates.com
and add your name to a
growing list of citizens calling
for a return of federal power
back to the states. Let us
raise our collective voices and
challenge the entrenched powers
in Washington by finally, and
for the first time, calling for a Convention of States.”
CONVENTION of STATES
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BEN SHAPIRO
“We have to hem in the power of
Congress and, in many cases, the
power of the Executive, before it
is too late. Can you imagine the
looks on the faces of politicians
when they realize they are now
legally barred from controlling your
life and they can't just live in those
offices forever? Calling a Convention of States is the only
way to get the job done. Sign the petition and get involved.
It's an important cause.”
PETE HEGSETH
“The leviathan of today's
federal government continues
to grow unabated, pushing the
people further away from our
Founder's vision of self-
governance. The Convention
of States Project is the only
constitutional pathway for
citizens to save our Republic by restoring it to her citizens.
Article V of our Constitution underscores the duty of
active citizenship and I am proud to stand with millions
of volunteers in this effort.”
22
SUPPORT FOR AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION
FORMER SEN. RICK SANTORUM
“As George Mason said, the
states need a way to propose
amendments in case Congress
refuses to make the necessary
reforms. If you believe
Congress will ever propose
amendments that limit federal
power, I have a bridge in
Brooklyn I’d like to sell you.”
DAVID BARTON
“I support an Article V
convention. It is time for states
to go on the offensive to limit
the overreach of the federal
government … I urge you to
support all of the Constitution,
and thus the efforts of the
Convention of States to pass
their extremely well-thought-out
and strategic legislation in
your home state and thus join us in a call to restore our
constitutional republic.”
CONVENTION of STATES
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MICHAEL FARRIS
“Only a Convention of States
will give us effective solutions
to the abuse of power in
Washington, D.C. It is our
moral obligation to protect
liberty for ourselves and
our posterity.”
CHARLIE KIRK
“The Founding Fathers gave
us a foolproof way to rein
in an overreaching federal
government in Article V. If young
conservatives want to take back
our country, they will join me
in supporting the Convention of
States Project. A Convention of
States is the only constitutional way to limit the power
and jurisdiction of the federal government and anyone
who wants to give power back to the people will support
this growing movement. After all, as we always say at
Turning Point, ‘Big Government Sucks,’ and it's not
going to shrink itself.”
24
SUPPORT FOR AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION
OTHER NOTABLE SUPPORTERS
• Rep. Chip Roy
• Rick Green
• Kirk Cameron
• Bob Vander Plaats
• Dr. Dave Brat
• Sen. Marco Rubio
• Dave Rubin
• Gov. Mike Dunleavy
• Sheriff David Clarke
• Lt. Col. Bill Cowan
• Ken Cuccinelli
• Rep. Jeff Duncan
• Sen. Ron Johnson
• Atty. Andrew McCarthy
• Economist Thomas Sowell
• Atty. Mat Staver
• Steve Hilton
• Gov. Greg Abbott
• Judge Andrew Napolitano
• Former Sen. Ben Sasse
• Pete Coors
• David Horowitz
• Lawrence Jones
• Former Gov. Mike Huckabee
• Former Gov. Jeb Bush
• Former Sen. Jim Talent
• Former Gov. Bobby Jindal
• Former Rep. Louie Gohmert
• Morton Blackwell
• Randy E. Barnett
• Charles J. Cooper
• Dr. John C. Eastman
• Robert P. George
• C. Boyden Gray
James O’Keefe
Dr. Ben Carson
Tucker Carlson
Lt. Gov.
Mark Robinson
Former Gov.
Sarah Palin
Vivek
Ramaswamy
Steve Deace
Former Sen.
Jim DeMint
CONVENTION of STATES
25
Answers
TO COMMON QUESTIONS
Why Do We Need to Call an
Article V Convention?
Washington, D.C., is broken. The federal government
is spending this country into the ground, seizing power
from the states and taking liberty from the people.
It’s time for we the people to take a stand against
tyranny with a coordinated, nationwide effort to curb
the unrestrained and growing power of the federal
government. The Founders gave us this emergency
tool to fix Washington, D.C. We must use it before
it is too late. Even when good people go to D.C. as
elected officials, they lack the power to fix the structural
problems now destroying our country. No change in
personnel can fix a structural problem. Only an Article
V convention has the power to repair the damage and
halt the federal government from eroding the liberties
of the sovereign citizens further.
What is an Article V Convention?
An Article V convention is called by the state
legislatures for the purpose of proposing amendments to
the Constitution. They are given power to do this under
Article V of the Constitution (see text, page 15). It is
not a constitutional convention. It cannot throw out the
26
ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
Constitution, because it receives its authority from the
Constitution. An Article V convention can only propose
amendments that fit within the topic of the applications
adopted by the state legislatures. So, for example,
a convention that is called to limit the power of the
federal government could not propose an amendment to
reduce our rights and expand federal power.
How Do the State Legislatures Call an
Article V Convention?
Thirty-four state legislatures must pass a resolution
in each chamber of their legislatures (called an
“application”) calling for an Article V convention.
The convention application does not need to be
signed by the governor to be effective. As soon as both
chambers of the state legislature pass the application,
that state becomes one of the required 34 states calling
for a convention. In order for the applications to be
aggregated (counted together towards the 34-state
threshold), they must all cover the same topic or set of
topics for a convention. The Article V convention model
application is included on page 36.
Can Congress Block an Article V
Convention?
No. As long as each of the 34 states applies for a
convention that deals with the same issue (e.g., limiting
the power and jurisdiction of the federal government),
Congress must call the convention. Congress’s ministerial
CONVENTION of STATES
27
duty is to name the place and the time for the convention.
If it fails to exercise this power reasonably, the states
themselves can and will override congressional inaction.
How Do States Choose Their Commissioners?
States are free to develop their own selection process
for choosing their delegates—properly called
“commissioners.” Historically, the most common
method used was an election by a joint session of both
chambers of the state legislature. This is true federalism
in action. Each state has the power to choose its own
commissioners in its own way.
Each state has the power to choose its own
commissioners in its own way.
28
ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
What Happens at an Article V Convention?
Each state's delegation participates in discussing,
drafting, and voting on amendment proposals
germane to the topic(s) stated in the 34 applications
that triggered the convention. According to historical
precedent, each state has one vote at the convention.
Amendments sent to the states are merely suggestions
and have no authority until ratified by the states.
How are
Proposed
Amendments
Ratified?
Thirty-eight states must
ratify any proposed
amendments before
they become part of
the Constitution. Each
proposed amendment is
ratified separately by the
states even if proposed as
a package (like the Bill of
Rights). Ratification may
be done by state legislatures or by state ratification
conventions, which represent the people more directly.
Historically, ratification has been by state legislatures,
with the exception of the Twenty-First Amendment,
which was ratified by state conventions.
38 states must ratify any
proposed amendments
before they become part
of the Constitution.
CONVENTION of STATES
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How Do We Know How an Article V
Convention Will Work?
Interstate conventions were common during the Founding
era, and the procedures and rules for such conventions were
widely known. Additionally, there have been many interstate
conventions since the Founding era, all operating on similar
rules. We can know how an Article V convention would oper-
ate by studying the historical record. Two simulated Article V
conventions (held in Williamsburg, Virginia, in September of
2016 and August of 2023) proved that these well-established
procedures would be followed by any Article V convention
held today. (See page 39 for a summary of that event.)
ls an Article V Convention Safe?
Yes. The convention's authority is limited to that conferred
upon it by the state legislatures. Furthermore, the
ratification process ensures that amendments that do not
reflect the desires of the American people will not be passed.
(Read more detailed responses to specific objections to an
Article V convention on page 30 of this booklet.)
The convention’s authority is limited to that conferred upon
it by the state legislatures.
30
OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS FROM THE OPPOSITION
Overcoming
Objections
FROM THE OPPOSITION
Objection One: What happens if
an Article V convention becomes a
“runaway convention” and takes away
our hard-won liberties?
Answer: Despite a common myth promoted by some
groups beginning in the 1960s, there is absolutely no
precedent for a “runaway convention.” There have
been at least 38 multi-state conventions in American
history and not a single one has “run away.”
Our Founders were masters of checks and balances,
and they put numerous safeguards in place to ensure
that a convention would never run away. The most
important of these safeguards is the requirement
that 38 states ratify any proposal coming out of
the convention before any change is made to the
Constitution. It is politically impossible for any
change to be made to our Constitution that does not
enjoy the overwhelming support of the American
people. As respected constitutional scholar Professor
Robert Natelson has pointed out, “There are far
CONVENTION of STATES
31
more checks on a runaway convention than on a
runaway Congress.”
Objection Two: Didn't the original
Constitutional Convention run away?
Answer: No, this is another myth that has been spread
to justify judicial activism and other unconstitutional
changes to our system of government. The entire claim
that the Constitutional Convention ran away is based
on the false idea that Congress called the Constitutional
Convention for the sole purpose of amending the
Articles of Confederation. But that's not true. In fact,
under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had
no authority to call a convention. If you look at the
historical records, it was actually Virginia that called the
Constitutional Convention in November 1786. Virginia
called the Convention for the purpose of “render[ing]
Our Founders were masters of checks and balances, and
they put numerous safeguards in place to ensure that a
convention would never run away.
32
OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS FROM THE OPPOSITION
the Federal Constitution [system of government]
adequate to the Exigencies [current circumstances]
of the Union,” an instruction that certainly included
proposing a new Constitution. Congress didn't enter
the picture until months later when, in February
1787, it passed a resolution recommending that the
convention only amend the Articles of Confederation.
However, the Articles of Confederation did not grant
Congress the power to call a convention. New York and
Massachusetts did issue commissions that resembled
the congressional resolution, but the remaining four
states followed the model of the Virginia resolution.
Objection Three: I like our Constitution
the way it is – short, simple, and fairly easy
to understand. Why should we change it?
Answer: While many Americans now own a “Pocket
Constitution,” the truth is that the Constitution we
live by today—the supreme law of the land governing
all American citizens and states—actually fills a book
weighing nearly ten pounds and running over 2,700
pages! That’s because for more than a century, a
“runaway constitutional convention” has been going
on in the Supreme Court. The results are printed by
our federal government in The Constitution of the
United States Annotated Edition. Everything from
same-sex marriage to ObamaCare and more are
now “the law of the land.” An Article V convention,
which the Framers provided, is the only way to rein
in our activist judiciary, reduce the size of the federal
CONVENTION of STATES
33
government, and restore our Constitution back to its
original pocket size and its original intent.
Objection Four: The Constitution isn’t the
problem. The problem is federal officials.
How will amending the Constitution help?
Answer: Most of the problems our country is facing
are the result of constitutional interpretations that
capitalize on ambiguities in the wording of certain
phrases (e.g., the General Welfare Clause being
interpreted as unlimited power to spend). We can
restore the federal government to its proper, limited
place only by clarifying the original meaning of
those phrases through constitutional amendments—
effectively overturning the bad Supreme Court
precedents that have eviscerated our federal system.
Unfortunately, due to manipulation and expansion of
federal government power by the Supreme Court, we
the people must use a convention to put the federal
government back into the constitutional box originally
created by the Founders.
Objection Five: Article V says Congress
“calls” the convention. Doesn't this mean
Congress will control the convention?
Answer: No, Congress's role is limited to issuing the
“call” which sets the date, time, and location of the
meeting once it receives 34 applications for a convention
34
OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS FROM THE OPPOSITION
on the same topic. In legal terms, this is referred to as
a “ministerial” role. In this role, Congress is acting in a
limited administrative capacity on behalf of the states. It
has no authority beyond that, including no control over
the delegates.
Objection Six: At a time of extreme gerry-
mandering and in an environment of unlim-
ited political spending, wouldn't an Article V
convention open up the Constitution and our
system of government to being rewritten by
special interest groups and the wealthy?
Answer: No. Over 400 applications for an Article V
convention have been filed, but we have never had one
Congress is acting in a limited administrative capacity
on behalf of the states. It has no authority beyond that,
including no control over the delegates.
CONVENTION of STATES
35
because there have never been 34 applications seeking
a convention for the same purpose. This demonstrates
that the purpose or scope specified in the applications
does matter. States can instruct their respective
delegates to entertain a more narrow scope than what
is within the aggregated application, but they cannot
broaden the topic beyond that identified in the 34
passed applications.
Objection Seven: Why is the opposition to
an Article V convention issuing dire warnings
about its potential for national disaster?
Answer: Nearly all opposition comes from the hard
left, as was revealed in April of 2017. Led by the
George Soros-funded Common Cause, a coalition of
radically anti-constitutional activist groups united in
their opposition to this constitutional solution. The
nearly 250 signers include the AFL-CIO, Planned
Parenthood, Greenpeace, La Raza, the NAACP, and
Clinton-founded groups like MoveOn.org. These
nearly 250 groups depend on a corrupt, runaway
federal government to preserve their power, fill their
coffers with taxpayer dollars, and advance their
radical agendas. This kind of organized opposition
means one thing: We are right above the target
and they know it. These organizations share one
goal: Keep the disastrous status quo of our federal
government unchanged. An Article V convention is
the only way to stop them.
36
ARTICLE V CONVENTION MODEL APPLICATION
Convention
of States
MODEL APPLICATION
The COS application limits what can be proposed at an
Article V convention.
The subject areas that can be considered at an Article V
convention are strictly limited to those specified in the
official applications submitted by all 34 (or more) states.
Section 1 of the application for an Article V convention
was carefully worded to specify such limits. It reads:
Section 1. The legislature of the State of
hereby applies to
Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the
Constitution of the United States, for the calling
of a convention of the States limited to proposing
amendments to the Constitution of the United
States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal
government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the
federal government, and limit the terms of office
for its officials and for members of Congress.
Any amendment submitted by the Article V convention
which goes beyond the scope plainly stated in Section 1
cannot be considered for ratification by the states.
CONVENTION of STATES
37
Amendments
TO CONSIDER AT AN
ARTICLE V CONVENTION
At an Article V convention, delegates will have the
opportunity to debate and pass amendments that could:
• Require members of Congress to live under the same laws
they pass for the rest of us.
• Impose term limits on members of Congress.
• Require a balanced federal budget.
• Impose limits on federal spending and/or taxation.
• Get the federal government out of our health care system.
• Get the federal government out of our education system.
• Stop unelected federal bureaucrats from imposing
regulations.
• Set term limits for Supreme Court justices.
• Set term limits for federal bureaucrats, ending the
dominance of the “swamp.”
• Remove the authority of the federal government over
state energy policy.
• Impose a single-subject rule on Congress that also
must be expressed in the bill’s title.
38
AMENDMENTS TO CONSIDER AT AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION
• A redefinition of the Commerce Clause (the original
view was that Congress was granted a narrow and
exclusive power to regulate shipments across state
lines—not all the economic activity of the nation).
• A prohibition on using international treaties and law
to govern the domestic law of the United States.
• Force the federal government to honor its
commitment to return federal lands to the states.
• And any other amendments that the commissioners
of the convention think are both germane to this
application and popular enough to be voted out of
convention to ratification.
At this convention, delegates from the states will
gather for the sole purpose of proposing amendments
that limit the power, size, and spending of the federal
government, and impose term limits on its officials and
members of Congress.
At this convention, delegates from the states will gather for
the sole purpose of proposing amendments that limit the
power, size, and spending of the federal government, and
impose term limits on its officials and members of Congress.
CONVENTION of STATES
39
SIMULATED
Article V
Convention
“The events at Williamsburg will be remembered
as a turning point in history. The spirit of liberty
and self-governance has been reignited.”
– Michael farris, co-founder,
convention of states
The first-ever Simulated Article V Convention convened
in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, Sept. 21–23,
2016. One-hundred and thirty-seven commissioners
representing every state in the nation gathered together to
undertake this historic endeavor. The convention operated
flawlessly, according to a set of rules drafted by Article
V scholar Prof. Rob Natelson and approved by the COS
Caucus, the largest state legislator caucus in America.
The convention passed amendment proposals on the
following six ideas:
1. The public debt shall not be increased except upon a
super majority vote in Congress.
2. Limiting federal overreach by restoring the Commerce
Clause to its original meaning.
40
AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION SIMULATION
3. Term limits on members of Congress.
4. Limiting the power of federal regulations by allowing
for a congressional override.
5. Requiring a super majority of Congress to increase
federal taxes and repealing the 16th Amendment. Also,
prohibiting taxation of income, gifts, and estates.
6. Giving the states (by a 3/5ths vote) the power
to abrogate any federal law, regulation, or
executive order.
If you want to know how an actual Article V convention
will operate, learn more about the 2016 and 2023 simulat-
ed conventions, and watch video of the proceedings, go to:
**www.conventionofstates.com/cossim**.
The first ever Article V convention Simulation convened
Sept. 21-23, 2016. A second Simulation convened Aug. 2–4,
2023. Both took place in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.
CONVENTION of STATES
41
About
CONVENTION OF STATES ACTION
Convention of States Action (COSA) is a 501©(4)
nonprofit organization founded for the purpose of
stopping the runaway power of the federal government.
We believe Washington,
D.C., is broken and will
not fix itself. The federal
government is spending this
country into the ground,
seizing power from the
states, and taking liberty
from the people.
We have a solution as big as
the problem.
COSA’s two-part plan is
to urge and empower state
legislators to call an Article
V convention.
Article V requires that 34 states pass resolutions to call
an Article V convention on the same subject before
the meeting can be called. We are working with state
legislators around the country to call a convention for a
specific subject: to impose fiscal restraints on the federal
COSA’s co-founders,
Dr. Michael Farris (left)
and Mark Meckler.
42
ABOUT CONVENTION OF STATES ACTION
government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the
federal government, and limit the terms of office for its
officials and for members of Congress.
We believe grassroots support is the key to successfully
calling a convention—and also the key to ensuring
that good amendments get ratified. We are building a
political operation in all 50 states, recruiting at least 100
citizens in every state legislative district in the nation.
Contact information
COS Action
5850 San Felipe, Suite 580A, Houston, TX 77057
540-441-7227
info@conventionofstates.com
COSA’s grassroots army extends all across America.
CONVENTION of STATES
43
Core Values
OF CONVENTION OF STATES ACTION
Preserve Constitutional Originalism
We adhere to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers
as expressed in our governing documents, and to
the original meaning of their language. We actively
work to restore limited, constitutional government,
federalism, individual rights, and America as the
beacon of freedom to the World.
Foster Responsible Self-Governance
True liberty requires personal responsibility and
individual accountability. As we work toward a cul-
ture of self-governance in our country, we promote a
culture in our organization that empowers everyone
to take action, learn from their mistakes, and adjust
their actions accordingly for the future.
Cultivate Servant Leaders
Servant leadership inspires employees and volunteers
to serve others and make a positive difference in their
communities as they work to restore self-governance.
We promote these principles through training and
mentorship opportunities.
44
CORE VALUES OF CONVENTION OF STATES
Be Kind
We believe in the Golden Rule; we treat others
the way we want to be treated. We seek to have
positive interactions with others while being
professional, respectful, and speaking the truth
boldly and with love.
Produce Meaningful Results
We aspire to produce a demonstrable impact
on the restoration of America to its divinely
inspired ideals, and the emboldening of
people around the world to work for their own
inalienable right to freedom.
Revere Judeo-Christian Values
Our Republic was founded on Judeo-Christian
principles, including that every individual is
created in God’s image and endowed by the
Creator with inalienable rights. It is the duty
of the government of, by, and for the People to
secure those rights.
CONVENTION of STATES
45
Get Involved
IN MAKING HISTORY
We always knew the statist ruling “elite” would one day
attack, but our growing success has forced them to act
faster than we anticipated. And you can be sure, those
attacks are just beginning. Today they are coming from
the radical left, but the assaults will expand to include
every person and organization in Washington, D.C., with
a vested interest in keeping power there. To ensure that
we respond effectively, we're focused on increasing our
grassroots army to many millions of Americans. You can
be a part of this historic grassroots movement by getting
involved in four unique ways.
Sign & Send
To sign the petition online, scan the QR code
for the Petition on the inside front cover of
this document, or photocopy and sign the
Convention of States petition on pages 49–50
of this booklet and mail it to Convention of
States Action, 5850 San Felipe, Suite 580A,
Houston, TX 77057 and send your friends to **www.**
**conventionofstates.com** to sign the petition. Right now,
we have over 5 million supporters, but we're looking to
more than double our citizen-activist army by the year's
end. If every supporter sends the petition to five of their
friends, we'll hit that goal in no time.
46
GET INVOLVED IN MAKING HISTORY
Volunteer
Volunteering is the easiest way to
get involved in the fight in your
state. As a volunteer, your primary
tasks will be contacting your state
legislators and asking that they support the Convention
of States resolution, spreading the word about Article
V to your friends and family, and attending legislative
meetings at your state capitol. You can commit as much
or as little time as your schedule allows—we're just
excited to welcome you aboard! For more information,
visit: www.conventionofstates.com/take_action.
Our volunteer teams are another great way to become
involved. The Social Media Warriors spread the word
online and the State Follow-Up Team welcomes new
volunteers. For more information, visit:
www.conventionofstates.com/take_action.
Be a Leader
We have leadership positions
to fit any skill set. Visit www.
conventionofstates.com/
take_action and apply to be a:
• State Director
• District Captain
• Coalition Director (e.g., Veterans, Young
Americans)
• State Videographer
CONVENTION of STATES
47
• State Communications Coordinator
• Legislative Liaison
• Coalitions Director
• State Media Liaison
• State Tech Assistant/Manager
• State Content Writer
• State Grassroots Coordinator
Spread the Word
Share this booklet with a friend, family member, or an
elected official. Visit us online for more information at:
• fb.com/conventionofstates
• instagram.com/conventionofstates
• twitter.com/COSProject
• rumble.com/COSProject
• youtube.com/@ConventionofStatesProject
• (540) 441-7227
Members of COSA Maryland’s grassroots army.
48
“It’s not tyranny we desire;
it’s a just, limited,
federal government.”
AlexAnder HAmilton
CONVENTION of STATES
49
Convention
of States
PETITION
Make photocopies of this form for you and others to sign.
Mail signed copies to Convention of States Action, 5850 San
Felipe, Suite 580A, Houston, TX 77057. If you prefer to sign
online, visit the website at conventionofstates.com.
Almost everyone knows that our federal government is on a
dangerous course. The unsustainable debt combined with crushing
regulations on states and businesses is a recipe for disaster.
What is less known is that the Founders gave state legislatures
the power to act as a final check on abuses of power by
Washington, DC. Article V of the U.S. Constitution authorizes
the state legislatures to call a convention to proposing needed
amendments to the Constitution. This process does not require
the consent of the federal government in Washington DC.
I support Convention of States; a national movement to call a
convention under Article V of the United States Constitution,
restricted to proposing amendments that will impose fiscal
restraints on the federal government, limit its power and
jurisdiction, and impose term limits on its officials and
members of Congress.
ARTICLE V CONVENTION PETITION
50
I want our state to be one of the necessary 34 states to pass
a resolution calling for this kind of an Article V convention.
You can find a copy of the model resolution and the Article V
Pocket Guide (which explains the process and answers many
questions) here:
//**https:%%//%%conventionofstates.com/handbook_pdf**//
I ask that you support Convention of States and consider
becoming a co-sponsor. Please respond to my request
by informing the national COS team of your position,
or sending them any questions you may have: info@
conventionofstates.com or (540) 441-7227.
Thank you so much for your service to the people of our
district.
Respectfully,
Name:
(printed)
Address:
Date:
I Want to Volunteer:
Phone:
Email:
“Liberty,
once lost,
is lost forever.”
JoHn AdAms
51
“[O]n 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.”
Article V
of
tHe constitution of tHe united stAtes