Texas House passes Convention of States application

conventionofstates.com ^ | 5/14/15 | Tamara Colbert

[cotton1706]

We have great news from Austin!

The Texas House passed the Convention of States resolution (HJR 77) today by a vote of 80-62!

We couldn't be prouder of our team in Texas -- they responded to our call to action, overwhelming the Texas legislature with calls and emails of support. This victory would have been impossible without their dedication, patriotism, and tenacity.

Next our resolution will move to the Texas Senate. Be looking for a specific call to action within the next few days explaining exactly who to contact and what to say!

[Red_Devil 232]

Thanks for that great info!

[Hostage]

Conservatives control 66 pf 99 state legislative chambers. How do you suppose liberals will get control?

And you do know it takes 3/4’s of states or 38 states to ratify any amendment to be part of the Constitution don’t you?

[colorado tanker]

Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told, what could possibly go wrong?

[Regulator]

Isn’t it amazing how much effort we have to do to legally change the Constitution, and how effortlessly the “President” and the people in the government violate it all the time?

[Publius]

That's because the federal entity observes the Living Constitution, the Constitution of penumbras and emanations, the Constitution that changes with the times even when the words don't change. That's because they asked the question, "Can this country be governed in the modern era under the Constitution of original intent?" and the answer was No.

It's up to the states to restore the balance of federalism.

[Unmarked Package]

This is a remarkable achievement as HJR 77 was the more comprehensive resolution including:

RESOLVED, That the 84th Texas Legislature apply to Congress to call a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for the limited purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and to limit the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress

The earlier Article V resolution HJR 79 passed by the Texas House (100-40) covered only a balanced budget amendment for the federal government.

Approval by the Texas Senate is very likely now.

[Jacquerie]

Like the Article V convention, there is another purely federal, extra-congressional body. It meets every four years. Members of the electoral college are also controlled by state statutes. Despite their one day existence, none have ever 'runaway' or gone insane.

To Those Who Fear A Runaway Article V State Amendments Convention.

[Art in Idaho]

How many more states do we need to have a constitutional convention? What is the magic number? Is it 37 or 38 states. We are getting closer and closer to that mark. Now, if and when we reach that magic number, will the rest of the states join?

For those who think the Article V process is too risky, I ask, "What other options do you see?"

To summarize from a previous post by GraceG:

1. Elect More Republicans - Failed due to RINO/Uni-party confluence.

2. Article V Convention of States to propose Amendments - Needed to try to take power from the federal government back to the states and reel in the federal leviathan.

3. State Nullification - Last ditch effort to try to take power back from the federal monster, though by this point it may be too late.

4. State Secession - Could either end up peaceably like the breakup of the Czechoslovakia in 1993 or a brutal:

5. Civil War II like the first one.... The longer we wait on #2, the more likely #3, then #4 and finally #5. .

So, do we do nothing and just wait for # 5?

Quick review: We need 34 states to pass an application, then Congress shall, by law, call a Convention of States as soon as it receives applications from 2/3 of the State Legislatures. That's 34 states. (So far both legislative chambers of 3 States have completely passed their resolutions and 36 state legislative chambers or bodies have filed or passed resolutions.) Amendments are proposed and voted on at the convention. Each Amendment must be ratified by ¾ of the states in order to become part of the US Constitution. That’s 38 states.

“There are far more political and legal constraints on a runaway convention than on a runaway Congress.” - Robert Natelson

Most FReepers are aware of these links, but I post anyway for review and for people new to Article V. It is our responsibility to make Article V the most understood aspect of the US Constitution.

****Please see this summary video from Alabama first: Convention of States - Alabama Way to go Alabama! A great introduction!

Rep. Bill Taylor introduces a Convention of States

Convention of States Live! with Mike Farris

The Case for an Article V Convention. Great explanation of an Article V convention to the Massachusetts State Legislature.

**** Convention of States Lots of information here.

Call a Convention A call for a Convention of States

Missouri state senator delivers amazing testimony (video) Reasoned speech on why we need an Article V Convention.

Article V Project to Restore Liberty Another good source.

Convention of States model Resolution

A Summary of Mark Levin’s Proposed Amendments by Jacquerie

Chapter 1 of Mark Levin’s Book, The Liberty Amendments

Mark Levin, Constitution Article V, and the Liberty Amendments

Mark Levin: “The Liberty Amendments” - Complete Sean Hannity Special + other Links

List of Mark Levin You Tube Videos

Citizens for Self-Governance: Convention of States Project Youtube hub – Lots of educational videos here

Mark Levin Article V, Liberty Amendments youtube video hub

Three hour video of C-Span interview with Mark Levin

*** Mark Levin’s ALEC Speech, Dec 4, 2014

Gaining Steam? Nearly 100 Lawmakers Descend on Mount Vernon to Talk Convention of States The beginning.

Mark Levin’s “Liberty Amendments” Sean Hannity Special

We can fight the uniparty! States, the Natural Second Party by Jacquerie

Convention to Propose Amendments to the United States Constitution

The Other Way to Amend the Constitution: The Article V Constitutional Convention Amendment Process

Amendment Booklet.pdf

Friends of Article V Convention Links

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention:

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part I)

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a convention. (Part II)

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part III)

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part IV)

Congress’ Present Duty to Call a Convention. (Part V)

Congress’ Failure to Call an Amendments Convention. (Part VI)

Ulysses at the Mast: Democracy, Federalism, and the Sirens' Song of the Seventeenth Amendment by Jay Bybee. Repeal the 17th ! Shorter Abstract here: Ulysses at the Mast, one page Abstract

****For those of you that still have doubts about the Article V process, please review: Responses To Convention Of States Opposition My initial concerns were resolved after reading these articles. My attitude now is Go For It!

Sarah Palin: Debunking the myths of a Convention of States

A Single-Subject Convention Addresses the “runaway convention” fear.

John Birch Society Denies Its History and Betrays Its Mission The original Birchers were for an Article V Convention.

Update: Convention of States by the numbers The current State count

Convention of States Gaining Momentum

Article V Latest News

Article V Handbook - for State Legislators An important resource.

**** State Legislators Article V Caucus State Legislators, Join up at this site!

Most State Legislatures are in session now. Send this list of links to your State Representatives and Senators here: Contact your State Legislators.

Sample Letter to state Representatives regarding the Convention of States Project and also, Talking Points.

Excellent Article V Letter to a State Assemblyman by Jacquerie

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke.

Let’s all work together to get this going!

[Hostage]

You trust the present Congress more than 66 out of 99 state legislative bodies controlled by conservatives?

If you do, then why hasn’t the hard left moved on this already? What’s holding them back?

And don’t tell me Soros is moving on this because he is getting nowhere with his initiatives.

[colorado tanker]

You haven’t considered the courts, most of which the liberals control.

[Hostage]

I’ve been following this Article V movement for years now. and this is the first I have heard anyone say the courts have anything to do with it. Can you describe how courts are involved amending the US Constitution via Article V?

[colorado tanker]

Anything the Convention might produce would immediately be attacked in the courts and they have de facto been amending the Constitution for years.

The point is nobody has done this since the original Convention. Everyone on the thread is absolutely certain all bases are covered and nothing could possibly go wrong. But nobody has ever done it and nobody knows where something like this might go.

If you read Harry Jaffa on the American founding, he points out there was no authority in the Articles of Confederation for what the Constitutional Convention did. Essentially, they were exercising the right of rebellion laid out in the Declaration of Independence.

[Jane Long]

Woo hoo!!

[cotton1706]

An Amendment to the Constitution could overrule the Courts, which would be proper (see the history of the 11th amendment).

The Supreme Court in the 90’s ruled that the Congress nor the states could not limit the terms of federal officials. An amendment could be passed limiting the terms of representatives and senators (or simply allowing the states to do so) and the courts would have nothing to say about it. They could not claim that it was unconstitutional if it was now part of the constitution. That’s just one example.

[shove_it]

Article V ping

4 States done, 34 to go.

[SvenMagnussen]

"You haven’t considered the courts, most of which the liberals control."

The Article Ver's aren't telling the complete story. A fully ratified, proposed amendment must be authenticated, published and archived before the US Constitution is amended.

Who authenticates a fully ratified proposed amendment? The President or one of his federal officers authenticates a fully ratified proposed amendment. A court challenge would ensue if the President or one of his federal officers chose not to authenticate the ratified proposed amendment. It is likely a liberal court would agree with the President.

If authenticated, the proposed, fully ratified amendment must be published by an official federal government printer. Who controls the printer? The official government printer is an appointee of the President. The President can fire an appointee at will. It is likely a liberal court would agree with the President.

Finally, the fully ratified, proposed amendment must be archived with original signatures and witness statements. Who controls the Archivist of the United States? The Archivist is an appointee of the President. The President can fire the Archivist at will. It is likely a liberal court would agree with the President.

Article V will be a disaster.

[Repeal The 17th]

You are just making shit up.
Article V.
Now!
Troll.

[dware]

I can’t shake the worry that if a Convention is ever called the liberals would find some way to highjack it.

They will. It'll happen. Only it'll be less a hijacking and more of a GOP bends over and let the left screw them just to get a couple Republican pieces passed.

[dware]

That would require wholesale hijacking of the state legislatures.

No, it wouldn't. All it will require is a sudden burst of "bipartisanship". The R's will do what they always do and bend over backwards in the name of "bipartisanship" to get some of their ideas passed, and the leftist amendments will come through. But go ahead. I'm looking forward to being able to say "I told ya so!".

[dware]

How will “liberals” hijack it?

The moment the right sees that they're amendments won't go anywhere without leftist support, the right will do what they always do and bend over backwards in the name of bipartisanship to see to it that the leftist amendments ALSO get through. It'll be less a "hijacking" and more of Republicans being republicans. There's no doubt in my mind that leftist amendments will make it through. Watch.