Delegates Begin Planning for Changes to U.S. Constitution [Mt. Vernon Assembly : See Article V]

Northwest Indiana Times ^ | June 12th, 2014 | Dan Carden

[Jacquerie]

INDIANAPOLIS | Representatives and senators from 29 states met Thursday in the Indiana Statehouse to begin planning for the first state-led revisions to the U.S. Constitution since the nation's fundamental governing document was enacted in 1789.

The significance of the work undertaken by The Mount Vernon Assembly to prepare for a future Convention of the States was not lost on the 94 official and participating delegates, mostly Republicans, who filled the House chamber.

"Nothing like this has occurred in over two centuries, though certainly the founders of this nation assumed it would have happened long ago," said Indiana Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne, an organizer of the meeting.

However, because an Article V convention never has been called, there are no clear procedures on how it would begin, what rules the convention would follow or whether it could be limited in scope.

The Mount Vernon Assembly, which organized last December at George Washington's Virginia estate and is planning to change its name to the Assembly of State Legislatures, has taken it upon itself to start answering those questions to ensure a future Convention of the States gets off on the right foot.

In the afternoon, delegates organized into four committees to begin tackling detailed planning questions for a Convention of the States, including how many delegates each state should have, whether states must send Congress an identical request and whether past state calls for Article V conventions, such as those submitted by Indiana in 1861 and 1979, are still valid.

State Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, was appointed co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He will help shape answers to those questions and others ahead of the assembly's December meeting, where its proposed rules for a Convention of the States will be approved.

[Molly T.]

Wish i hadn't clicked onto this article....whenever they start talking about messing with the Constitution< I get NERVOUS, & WITH THE BUNCH OF FOOLS IN THIS administration...i GET QUESY JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. THE GUY IN THE WHITE HOUSE WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO DO AWAY WITH OUR CONSTITUTION....i DO BELIEVE HE CALLED IT A “HINERANCE TO WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.....WELL, HE FORGOT HE WAS DEALING WITHA BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO SPINE,WHO SIT ALL DAY & FIGURE OUT HOW TO SCREW THE TAXPAYERS....THE GUY IN THE WHITE HOUSE SURELY KNOWS BY NOW , WHAT A BUNCH OF LOOSER CROOKS ARE IN CONGRESS....HE SHOULD FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.....

[Repeal The 17th]

“... Eliminate the 1st and 2nd amendment ...”
-
If:
you believe there are not 16 states that would not reject such a proposal,
And:
you believe there are not 14 state legislatures that would reject such an amendment,
Then:
you must believe that we are already doomed.

If:
you believe that we are already doomed,
Then:
why would you object to an opportunity to peacefully correct our direction?

If:
you do not understand what I just said:
Then:
you don’t know what you are talking about,
And:
you are just talking through your ass.

[RipSawyer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp3t30jMm1I

[Jacquerie]

Take a stroll through the BOR and ponder how many clauses remain in force.

[Repeal The 17th]

“... a few amendments I would like to see ...”
-
Oh, you don’t even want to see my list!

[RipSawyer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp3t30jMm1I

[Jacquerie]

What good are new articles going to do? They’ll just ignore them too.

If you believe that, then amendments can do no harm.

[Repeal The 17th]

You need to educate yourself on this topic.

[Jacquerie]

How about restoration, rather than rewrite? By that I mean return the states to the senate.

[Norm Lenhart]

As for me personally I’m for the A5 stuff. But it has to have real teeth and it has to strip most power from the feds. And I mean most.

Lots of alphabets closed. Lots of fed workers back to private industry/business. Lots of offices shuttered for lack of purpose. Lots of laws nullified and programs eliminated.

[familyop]

I'm sure that they'll do a good job on the Constitution in order to keep us all safe and get more of what they're entitled to.

Leviathan (Uncle Sam employs more people than you think)
National Review ^ | 02/03/2011 | Iain Murray
"...nearly 40 million Americans employed in some way by government."

Heavy Hitters: Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2014
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php
American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $60,949,129 [Democrat] 81% [Republican] 1%”

[Revel]

Sadly at this time this will lead to a severe turn away from freedom and the constitutional principle that made this country great. Today we have a society that is so dumbed down, and so clueless that they will do far more harm than good. In this world today society embraces all things that go against the very foundation of this country and a free and functioning country. In short the Liberals and the socialists will have a field day with it.

If conservatives and true American patriots are unable to do anything about what is going on in government today. If they can’t even do anything about massive violations of the law by the branches of Government. Then they sure won’t be showing up in any controlling way at a constitutional convention. What you will end up with will not even resemble the constitution that founded this nation.

[Jacquerie]

An Article V convention to propose amendments represents rebellion, peaceful rebellion against the ruling class. The billions of rounds of ammo they have are useless against us. Our movement is taking off, and they are cr@pping their pants.

[dalereed]

Leave the Constitution alone!

[Sola Veritas]

“Isn’t it amazing how these prudent men and women, whose purpose is to plan an orderly convention that passes the muster of constitutional history, take so much guff at Free Republic?”

Because it is a BAD idea. It would be coopted by both libertarians (libertines) and liberals. It would NOT produce meaningful corrections that balanced conservatives would like.

[Repeal The 17th]

For those who say:
"... this is dangerous ..."
"... this is a terrible idea ..."
"... liberal States might send extremists as delegates ..."
"... other important things might be changed ..."
"... they will attack the Bill of Rights ..."
"... the right to free speech or right to bear arms could be taken away ..."
"... they might try to re-write the entire Constitution ..."
-
An Article V Convention of States has no authority to re-write or even to amend the Constitution.
-
An Article V Convention of States is simply a formal gathering of delegates from
at least 34 states (two-thirds), to discuss, debate, and "propose amendments" to the Constitution.
-
The State resolutions currently circulating call for an Article V Convention of States using the same language.
"...for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution which:
- Impose fiscal restraints on the Federal Government;
- Limit the power and jurisdiction of the Federal Government; and
- Limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress."
-
When/if the two-thirds threshold is met, each State would send delegates to gather in the convention.
The delegates would be selected by the various State legislatures.
The delegates would discuss, debate, and "propose amendments" to the Constitution.
The convention would operate on a one State = one vote system; with each State carrying the same weight.
-
Any proposal not within the stated purpose of the Convention of States
(fiscal restraints; limits on power and jurisdiction; limits on terms of office)
would be unauthorized, rejected, and not approved by the Convention of States.
-
Any proposal that emerged as a "proposed amendment" by the Convention of States
would require ratification by 38 states (three-fourths), the same as with any other proposed amendment.
-
An Article V Convention of States has no authority to re-write or even to amend the Constitution.
-
Read more at: http://www.conventionofstates.com
-

[Repeal The 17th]

In an attempt to answer these objections:
"... They already ignore the existing Constitution! ..."
"... What good would adding more amendments do? ..."
"... The Constitution is fine the way it is! ..."
"... All we need to do is enforce the constitution we have! ..."
"... Why bother? ... "
-----------------------
The passage of time and progressive activism have, in effect, altered and perverted the Constitution
with legislative, executive, and judicial decisions that effectively function as amendments to the Constitution,
but without having had the appropriate agreement or ratification by the States.
-
The federal government has attempted to intimidate the States with threats.
The federal government has attempted to coerce the States with bribes.
The federal government has selectively applied different standards arbitrarily and unequally among the States.
The federal government has forced the States to undertake expenditures and placed conditions upon those expenditures.
The federal government has adopted foreign law and entered into unauthorized international agreements.
The federal government has attempted to seize control of all government and all government decisions.
The federal government has effectively ignored both the Ninth and Tenth amendments to the Constitution.
The federal government has usurped the power and authority of the States.
The federal government has created rules and regulations that have their proper origin with
the inalienable rights of the People and the power and authority that the People have granted to the States.
The federal government has pursued action, seizures, and prohibitions against the rights of the People.
The federal government has demonstrated a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing the same objective.
The federal government has failed.
-
Congress has allowed its power and authority to be relinquished to the executive branch and the judicial branch.
Congress has allowed federal agencies to create regulations that function as congressional law.
Congress has allowed federal agencies to selectively interpret and selectively enforce congressional law.
Congress has allowed the courts to interpret and effectively rewrite congressional law.
Congress has demonstrated its inability to develop, manage, or control the federal budget.
Congress has burdened future generations to servitude for debts to which they have had no say in creating.
Congress has failed.
-
The federal government must not be allowed to usurp the authority of the States or the rights of the People.
Congress must not be allowed to continue to fail to perform the duties given to them by the Constitution.
-
-
Read more at: http://www.conventionofstates.com
-

[familyop]

It will be exciting to see our Constitution changed into something more resembling local planning and building codes, except that the text will probably be about as accessible as property tax assessment information. I'm sure that our state and local socialist political folks would see to it that they have plenty of discretion to fix everything for us.

In my more sincere opinion, we need new leadership in all levels of government, business and academia. That's the honest solution. There's too much corruption. Our nation is morally bankrupt and probably needs the remainder of the default process and a new, production beginning.

[Jacquerie]

Obama and Scotus write laws. Instead of defending our nation, the President of the United States leads the invasion of our southern border. The IRS, FBI, . . . et al are extensions of the democratic party and openly work to destroy their political enemies.

Our backs are against the wall. There is NOTHING to lose, and possibly everything to gain.

[familyop]

...a new, productive beginning, even.