Title: The Jefferson Statement
Original CoS Document (slug): the-jefferson-statement
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Attached File: COSA_JeffersonStatement_102023_eVersion.pdf
On September 11, 2014, some of our nation’s finest legal minds convened to consider arguments for and against the use of Article V to restrain federal power. These experts specifically rejected the argument that a Convention of States is likely to be misused or improperly controlled by Congress, concluding instead that the mechanism provided by the Founders is safe. Moreover, they shared the conviction that Article V provides the only constitutionally effective means to restore our federal\rsystem. The conclusions of these prestigious experts are memorialized in The Jefferson Statement, which is reproduced here. The names and biographical information of the endorsers, who have formed a “Legal Board of Reference” for the Convention of States Project, are listed below the Statement
Created: 2017-07-06 07:08:54
Updated: 2023-10-20 15:51:44
Published: 2017-07-17 19:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T19:22:45.373720403
Signed,
The
JEFFERSON
STATEMENT
*Original signers of the Jefferson Statement
WHEN THE NATION’S FINEST LEGAL MINDS gathered at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. in
2014, they set out to consider arguments for and against the use of Article V to restrain federal power. But
like the Founding Fathers in 1787, they soon realized that they agreed unanimously that the option of an
Article V convention is safe, effective, and necessary.
These experts, who subsequently signed the Jefferson Statement reproduced below, rejected the argument that an Article
V convention is likely to be misused or improperly controlled by Congress. They shared the conviction that Article V
provides the only constitutionally effective means to restore our federal system, and they formed the core of our Legal
Board of Reference, whose names you can find on the opposite side of this document.
THE CONVENTION OF STATES mechanism
is safe, and it is the only constitutionally
effective means available to do what is so
essential for our nation.
The Constitution’s Framers foresaw a day when the federal
government would exceed and abuse its enumerated
powers, thus placing our liberty at risk. George Mason was
instrumental in fashioning a mechanism by which “we the
people” could defend our freedom—the ultimate check on
federal power contained in Article V of the Constitution.
Article V provides the states with the opportunity to
propose constitutional amendments through a process
called a Convention of States. This process is controlled by
the states from beginning to end on all substantive matters.
A Convention of States is convened when 34 state
legislatures pass resolutions (applications) on an agreed
topic or set of topics. The Convention is limited to
considering amendments on these specified topics.
While some have expressed fears that a Convention of
States might be misused or improperly controlled by
Congress, it is our considered judgment that the checks
and balances in the Constitution are more than sufficient
to ensure the integrity of the process.
The Convention of States mechanism is safe, and it is the
only constitutionally effective means available to do what is
so essential for our nation—restoring robust federalism with
genuine checks on the power of the federal government.
We share the Founders’ conviction that proper decision-
making structures are essential to preserve liberty. We
believe that the problems facing our nation require
several structural limitations on the exercise of federal
power. While fiscal restraints are essential, we believe the
most effective course is to pursue reasonable limitations,
fully in line with the vision of our Founders, on the
federal government.
Accordingly, I endorse the Convention of States Project,
which calls for an Article V Convention for “the sole
purpose of proposing amendments 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.” I
hereby agree to serve on the Legal Board of Reference for
the Convention of States Project.
Randy E. Barnett*
Charles J. Cooper*
John C. Eastman*
Michael P. Farris*
Robert P. George*
C. Boyden Gray*
Mark Levin*
Nelson Lund
Andrew McCarthy*
Mark Meckler*
Mat Staver
Randy E. Barnett is a
graduate of Harvard Law
School and a professor
at t he G eorgetow n
University Law Center.
He represented the National Federation of
Independent Business in its constitutional
challenge to the Affordable Care Act.
Charles J. Cooper is a
founding member and
chairman of Cooper
& K i rk, PL LC. A
member of the Reagan
Administration, Mr. Cooper has argued
before the Supreme Court, and he
spent much of his career defending
constitutional rights as a top lawyer for
the National Rifle Association.
John C. Eastman is the
Founding Director of the
Center for Constitutional
Jurisprudence, a public
interest law firm affiliated
with the Claremont Institute. Prior
to joining the Fowler School of Law
faculty, he served as a law clerk with
Justice Clarence Thomas at the Supreme
Court of the United States and served in
the Reagan administration.
Michael P. Farris is the
Co-Founder and Senior
Advisor at Convention
of States Action. Mr.
Farris was the founding
president of the Home
School Legal Defense Association, where
he currently serves as Board Chairman.
He became the founding president of
Patrick Henry College in 2000, where he
currently serves as Chancellor Emeritus.
He has argued before the appellate
courts of 13 states, eight federal circuit
courts of appeals, and twice before the
Supreme Court of the United States.
Mr. Farris is largely known for his work
in constitutional appellate litigation,
religious freedom, homeschooling, and
political advocacy.
Andrew McCarthy is a
bestselling author, a Senior
Fellow at National Review
Institute, and a contributing
editor at National Review.
Mr. McCarthy is a former Chief Assistant
U.S. Attorney in New York.
The late
C. Boyden Gray
was the founding partner of
Boyden Gray & Associates,
in Washington, D.C. Prior
to founding his law firm,
Ambassador Gray served as Legal Counsel
to Vice President Bush (1981–1989), as
White House Counsel in the administration
of President George H.W. Bush (1989–
1993), and as counsel to the Presidential
Task Force on Regulatory Relief during the
Reagan Administration.
Mark Levin is one of
America’s preeminent
constitutional lawyers and
the author of several New
York Times bestselling
books including Men in Black (2007),
Liberty and Tyranny (2010), Ameritopia
(2012), and The Liberty Amendments
(2013), which helped launch Convention
of States Action onto the national political
scene. In addition, he is the host of the
nationally-syndicated radio program The
Mark Levin Show and the top-rated Fox
News show Life, Liberty & Levin. Mr.
Levin has also served as a top advisor
to several members of President Ronald
Reagan’s Cabinet—including as Chief
of Staff to the Attorney General of the
United States, Edwin Meese.
Robert P. George is one of
the nation’s leading conser-
vative legal scholars and is
the founding director of the
James Madison Program
in American Ideals and Institutions. He is
chairman of the United States Commission
on International Religious Freedom (US-
CIRF) and has served as a presidential ap-
pointee to the United States Commission
on Civil Rights.
N e l s o n L u n d i s
University Professor at
George Mason University
School of Law. After
clerking for Justice Sandra
Day O’Connor, he served in the White
House as Associate Counsel to President
George H.W. Bush.
Mark Meckler, (BA ’85/
JD ’88) is President of
Convention of States
Act ion, home for t he
nation’s largest and most
active grassroots army, operating in all fifty
states. Mr. Meckler practiced business,
real estate, and internet law, and owned
and ran multiple businesses for over twenty
years. In 2009, he left the business and
legal world when he co-founded and served
as the National Coordinator of the Tea
Party Patriots. In 2013, he co-founded the
Convention of States Project with Michael
Farris, and has subsequently focused on
political and grassroots organizing and
constitutional law.
Mat Staver, B.A. M.A.,
J.D., B.C.S., serves as
Senior Pastor, Founder
and Chairman of Liberty
Counsel; Chairman of
Liberty Counsel Action,
Faith and Liberty, National Pro-life Center,
Freedom Federation, Salt & Light Council,
and National House of Hope; Founder and
Chairman of Liberty Relief International;
Vice President and Chief Counsel of the
National Hispanic Christian Leadership
Conference (which includes over 42,000
Evangelical Hispanic churches); Trustee,
Timothy Plan, a family of mutual funds
traded in New York and Tel Aviv; and
former dean of Liberty University School
of Law. He has produced the “Why Israel
Matters” TV show, as well as produces and
hosts Faith & Freedom and Freedom’s Call,
daily radio programs, and Freedom Alive,
a weekly TV program. He is married to
Anita, who is president of Liberty Counsel.
Mat and Anita have one daughter, three
grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
info@conventionofstates.com
“The Convention of States mechanism is safe, and it is the only constitutionally
effective means available to do what is so essential for our nation.”
Support the only solution that is as big as the problem.
Sign the petition at ConventionOfStates.com.
www.conventionofstates.com