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Did Michigan Just Trigger 'Constitutional Convention'? Bid Gains Steam
Fox News ^ | 4/2/14 | Barnini Chakraborty

Posted on 04/11/2014 1:32:11 PM PDT by JeepersFreepers

Momentum is building behind what would be an unprecedented effort to amend the U.S. Constitution, through a little-known provision that gives states rather than Congress the power to initiate changes.

At issue is what's known as a "constitutional convention," a scenario tucked into Article V of the U.S. Constitution. At its core, Article V provides two ways for amendments to be proposed. The first – which has been used for all 27 amendment to date – requires two-thirds of both the House and Senate to approve a resolution, before sending it to the states for ratification. The Founding Fathers, though, devised an alternative way which says if two-thirds of state legislatures demand a meeting, Congress “shall call a convention for proposing amendments.”

“Based on several reports and opinions, Michigan might be the 34th state to issue such a call and therefore presents the constitutionally-required number of states to begin the process of achieving a balanced budget amendment,” Hunter wrote.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News
KEYWORDS: amendment; concon; constitutional; convention; mi; michigan
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For more information on a Constitutional Convention initiated by the states, see Compact for America and Convention of States
1 posted on 04/11/2014 1:32:12 PM PDT by JeepersFreepers
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To: JeepersFreepers

What could possibly go wrong? I mean, anything’s better than what we have now, right?


2 posted on 04/11/2014 1:34:35 PM PDT by Genoa (Starve the beast.)
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To: JeepersFreepers

I see a mistake. The founding fathers should have left Congress out of the equation entirely. As it is, Congress has to call for the convention and they could literally sit on their laurels forever and not do it.


3 posted on 04/11/2014 1:38:13 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
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To: Genoa

“What could possibly go wrong? I mean, anything’s better than what we have now, right?”
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Wrong!


4 posted on 04/11/2014 1:38:36 PM PDT by RipSawyer
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To: Genoa

I hope the 2A survives and may even be strengthened.


5 posted on 04/11/2014 1:39:43 PM PDT by CurlyDave
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To: CurlyDave

Look on the bright side, perhaps they could limit the powers of the guy with the phone and the pen.


6 posted on 04/11/2014 1:41:32 PM PDT by DaveA37
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To: JeepersFreepers

This is a Convention of the States. It will have no effect on the Articles or the Bill of Rights which were ratified as a package.

The purpose will be to propose new Amendments and not to rewrite the entire Constitution.


7 posted on 04/11/2014 1:42:39 PM PDT by MeganC (Support Matt Bevin to oust Mitch McConnell! https://mattbevin.com/)
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To: JeepersFreepers
If the Balanced Budget Amendment requires lowering expenditures and prohibits raising taxes, then it's okay with me.

8 posted on 04/11/2014 1:44:03 PM PDT by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
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To: CurlyDave

It takes 37 states to change the Constitution.

Thus, I cannot see the 2A being changed either way.

However, I think the following has support from both liberal and conservative sides, and could easily get 37 states to pass:

- Overturning Kelo
- Making it illegal for members of Congress to engage in insider trading.


9 posted on 04/11/2014 1:45:22 PM PDT by kidd
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To: Progov

I’m still on the fence but from what I’ve been reading this type of convention is pretty limited in scope and can’t really be bowled over by the feds. Basically not much can be added.


10 posted on 04/11/2014 1:46:30 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: JeepersFreepers

This sword has two edges. Be careful what you wish for.


11 posted on 04/11/2014 1:46:40 PM PDT by lurk
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To: MeganC

I believe that there is no limit to what part of the Constitution can be amended. I’m willing to be corrected.


12 posted on 04/11/2014 1:47:30 PM PDT by Genoa (Starve the beast.)
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To: Genoa; All

Maybe some education is necessary to understand what the COS is not a Constitutional Convention.

http://conventionofstates.com/


13 posted on 04/11/2014 1:47:45 PM PDT by mazda77
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To: Progov
Only fools would believe the convention will come out to the advantage of the people. Fools of America even now risk losing their constitution. Judges undermine it every day. Presidents ignore it. Politicians do nothing.

Now the fools want to amend it as if IT were the problem. Fools need to look to themselves.

14 posted on 04/11/2014 1:49:28 PM PDT by Rapscallion (Obama is the corruption of America - economic, criminal, judicial, political, sexual, and more)
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To: JeepersFreepers

I’d be happy if we had an amendment that requires that anyone running for the office of president must be a natural born United States citizen. /sarc

No sense in writing new ones until the old ones are enforced.


15 posted on 04/11/2014 1:50:10 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress (http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx)
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To: cripplecreek

The COS is ONLY for proposing amendments. The states STILL have to ratify them. I have no fear of a COS or even a full blown Constitutional Convention. This may be the only chance we ever get of reigning in the power of the federal government.


16 posted on 04/11/2014 1:53:48 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
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To: Rapscallion

It is our only hope short of an all out civil war.


17 posted on 04/11/2014 1:55:06 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
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To: JeepersFreepers
The seventeenth amendment making senators directly elected by the people hamstrung states' rights and sent all the power to Washington.

An article 5 convention is a way for the states to get back some of that power, and the feral government has no say.

Only the state legislatures have a say in an article 5 convention.

Harry Reid and Nasty Pelosi need not apply.

18 posted on 04/11/2014 1:59:38 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The best way to control opposition is to lead it ourselves." -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin)
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To: RipSawyer

Uh huh. We should only allow Congress to propose amendments right?

Puke......


19 posted on 04/11/2014 2:00:15 PM PDT by Hostage (ARTICLE V)
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To: Pilgrim's Progress

The ignore the current ones by claiming that the meanings are flexible and obscure. The COS will specifically define the “gray” areas so there can be no doubt. For example, one of the proposed amendments is to repeal the 17th Amendment and make the senators selected by the state legislatures. Another is to term limit the representatives. Yet another is to forbid Congress from giving the agencies it creates the power to create rules with the weight of law. Another is to redefine the power that Congress has on interstate traffic to limiting interstate tariffs instead of the broad powers it now claims the interstate commerce clause gives them. Kind of hard to use weasel words on plain words.


20 posted on 04/11/2014 2:01:34 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
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