Thus, there is an absolutely firm legislative precedent that an agreement on the topic is the sine qua non for the call of a convention. Notice the authors didn't cite a source.
There is nothing from the federal convention, The Federalist nor the state ratification debates to support that assertion.
From Article V, amendments are proposed at the convention. Congress' duty is to tally applications and call a convention when the number reaches two-thirds.
Simple.
Importantly, an argument can be made *right now* that enough states have called for a convention. And while that can be argued *right now*, congress could end the debate *right now*.
All it takes is a resolution of both Republican-controlled houses of congress that 34 states have indeed called for an Article V convention. If it passes *by a simple majority* in both houses, that would end the debate.
Obama would have no, zero input. The Democrats could not block it.
Immediately, congress would then be required to establish the few particulars, and to officially notify all 50 states to send delegates.
This could *right now* be done in a single day.
Importantly, this is not up for litigation. Nobody has the standing to sue to prevent it. Once congress makes its resolution, the process cannot be stopped.
Very importantly, states *could not* send sitting congressmen or senators as delegates.