[Publius]

This essay was originally posted on 12/5/2000. I have revised it after having it corrected by "Congressman Billybob", who is a constitutional lawyer.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Another thing that could happen at a Convention... the old Constitution could be scrapped completely.

[satchmodog9]

Too many rats and too many chicken crap republicans to force an amendment.

[stainlessbanner]

Another backstop of the Constitution is secession.

It's misleading to think muleskiners and hayseeds would show up as state delegates - they would most likely be politicians of some sort.

[supercat]

A delegate from New York will introduce an amendment to repeal the 2nd Amendment.

How many states have shall-issued concealed carry?

[TBP]

Ho wdo you go about limiting a convention if it gets ambitious? Remember, the convention that gave us the Constitution was only charged with amending the Articles of Confederation. Insetad, it threw them out.

[old republic]

Nice essay. Its too bad that the states don't actually use one of the few checks they have left on the national government. As long as the states don't try to dump the whole Constitution at a convention, people will feel more comfortable with using that method of proposing amendments.

[Modok]

I would not trust either a democrat or a republican with the constitution. Your idea is horseshit.

[DocRock]

Bookmark to read later

[bitusmeus]

There seem to be some errors in your essay.

Then in 1992, after the commotion over the unexpected ratification of the 27th Amendment, originally proposed in 1789, Congress passed a bill reforming its involvement in the amendatory process, to include regulating the petitions for a Convention for Proposing Amendments and regulating the Convention itself.


I find no evidence that Congress did so. Can you provide a citation? The Judiciary Committee did some work in this area, but nothing was passed by Congress.


Article I Section 6 only prevents United States officeholders from attending conventions without first resigning their current officers.

Article I Section 6 does not say anything of the sort.