Posted on 09/29/2017 4:20:29 PM PDT by Jacquerie
In his remarks at the Henderson County public library, Mike Faulkenberry, state director of the N.C. Convention of States Project, asked a crowd of about 80 people whether they felt the federal government is “doing just a bang-up job.”
None raised their hand to answer yes.
He asked whether they felt the federal government gets carried away sometimes, but for the most part does pretty well in areas such as taxes and regulations, and again none answered yes.
But when he asked who felt the federal government “is completely out of control,” hands went up across the room.
The Convention of States Project is an effort to hold a convention of states to rein in the federal government, focusing specifically on term limits, fiscal restraint and reducing and restraining its power and jurisdiction. “We all agree that the federal government is just broken; it doesn’t work anymore,” he said. “It certainly doesn’t work anything like the way that the founders intended for it to work and that the framers of the Constitution dictated that it work.”
Faulkenberry led a discussion Tuesday night at the library about the Convention of States Project’s effort. He said the government can be fixed, but those in power will never fix it themselves.
The framers of the Constitution knew three things were necessary for good government, he said: that the people need to pay attention and vet who they elect in order to send good people to office, that those people implement good policy, and that a good structure is imperative for the other two.
That structure is the Constitution, he explained, but “that’s where we have dropped the ball a lot, is by allowing the structure, the Constitution, that the framers did such a wonderful job with, (to) be distorted, be changed, be modified, in some cases be ignored, and instead, we’ve got what we’ve got now.”
The fix, though, is also in the Constitution, he said — in Article V, a convention of the states. “It’s time we step up and do something about it,” Faulkenberry said.
Article V provides ways to amend the Constitution: that two-thirds of both houses of Congress can propose amendments when they deem it necessary, or that two-thirds of the legislatures of the states call for a convention.
Regardless of which of those two ways an amendment is proposed, the Article provides that the amendment must then be ratified by either three-fourths of the states’ legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states, with Congress to decide which.
One chamber in 13 states saying no or saying nothing, Faulkenberry explained, would prevent the passage of the amendment. Of the country’s 99 state legislative bodies, it would take only 13 to stop it.
“That’s a really high bar — a really high bar — and it should be,” he said. “We shouldn’t amend the Constitution lightly.”
For North Carolina, Senate Joint Resolution 36, “A joint resolution applying to Congress for an Article V convention of the states with the purpose of proposing amendments to the United States Constitution,” has passed the Senate and is set to be considered by the House.
State Reps. Chuck McGrady and Cody Henson and State Sen. Chuck Edwards are all in favor of the measure, and both McGrady and Edwards were on hand Tuesday night to discuss their position.
Keep the 17th but modify it that states that Senators must win a majority of counties to be the winner
The Convention is a really bad idea. Look at the NFL as an example.....the players and team ownership that used to be patriotic have been bullied into submission by the forces that seek to destroy the nation. And look at the incredible numbers of pols who campaign conservative then when in power implement the globalist agenda.
A convention to change the Constitution we're trying to preserve? Too much downside risk.
No.
Doesn’t matter what the ‘laws’ are. There is always a way around them and liberals/deep-staters/statists will use them to defeat an nullify the intent. Worse, you won’t find out until its all over, and any punitive state laws that held sway before the start will be gone by the end.
Such events are only for ‘trusting souls,’ but not for the real world which has teeth and will use them to tear such souls apart before devouring them.
An Article V convention does NOT change the Constitution. It proposes amendments for the States to vote on just like in the past Congress has done. It is a means for the States to act when Congress doesn’t. Historically what we have seen , the stupid amendments tend not to make it through the States, the exception being the 18th amendment.
Wouldn’t you like an amendment with wording specifically clarifying the “Commerce Clause” or one specifically stopping the “anchor baby” interpretation of the 14th & 15th amendments. I guess you still want to rely on the “wisdom” of lawyers and judges in those interpretations, but its “ ok” if its “conservative” lawyers and judges. Who can “grow” in office over time as the media puts it and move left! I prefer to remove the ambiguity in those interpretations. I see no other way to do it.
Cos I’m in. Go for it. Nothing to lose.
A Cos that repelled the 16th and 17th amendments would be a huge success. It either CoS or Civil War I am good either way.
This thread is full of older people with the attitude “don’t do anything radical or fix anything until I am dead and gone”.
You’ve made your point. Now sit down.
George Soros is involved in the Constitutional Convention big time.
So what , there will be patriots involved too. I am not afraid of that old coot.
From what I have heard/read there is a difference between a Constitutional Convention and an Art. V Convention of States.
Perhaps someone with more involvement in the COS can clarify this?
Think question was answered in Post #5
It’s a gathering of state delegates that consider, then vote on, then propose amendment or amendments to the US Constitution. This amendment or amendments are then sent to the states for ratification. The states have to ratify just like in the past, it does not directly change the Constitution. It bypasses Congress drawing up and passing an amendment or amendments to be submitted to the states. See Article V US Constitution.
5 posted on 9/29/2017, 6:41:47 PM by Reily
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Mark Levin gives a brief (30 min.) but detailed description here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKtWK79yzuY
If you prefer to read a more detailed and thorough study get his book, “The Liberty Amendments”.
I'm just a COS volunteer, but I wrote an extensive and well-received blog post on the topic.
I have to wonder if Article V opponents oppose other clauses in the Constitution. Its early form appeared in Governor
Randolph’s proposed Virginia Plan of government at the opening of the federal convention in May 1787. What is more fundamental to republican government?
I think they would be much more concerned about a serious, thought out campaign for a couple of specifc changes.
This COS movement, absent specific goals, is rightly viewed as a fantastic diversion. Everyone imagining that all their their wishes will come true at some magical convention.
Hardly a threat to those holding power in the real world.
The convention is the place for specific changes.
Changes to what?
The only thing close to consensus as an amendment is balanced budget and that's only because everyone still has their own idea about how it will work.
It's an almost exact parallel to repealing the ACA. Everyone is for it until a specific scenario takes shape - with all it's warts. Then it all goes pear-shaped
The ACA repeal has been a genuine debacle but will seem like legislative genius compared to what would happen at a COS.
The COS is a tool to implement a solution, not a solution in itself. The first step is to agree on the solution.
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