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Conservatives zero in on constitutional convention plan
standard.net ^ | 4/5/15 | Reid Wilson

Posted on 04/05/2015 7:35:49 AM PDT by cotton1706

Conservative state legislators frustrated with the gridlock in Washington are increasingly turning to a plan to call a convention to consider a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution — an event that would be unprecedented in American history and one that could, some opponents predict, lead to complete political chaos.

Legislators in 27 states have passed applications for a convention to pass a balanced budget amendment. Proponents of a balanced budget requirement are planning to push for new applications in nine other states where Republicans control both chambers of the legislature.

If those applications pass in seven of the nine targeted states, it would bring the number of applications up to 34, meeting the two-thirds requirement under Article V of the Constitution to force Congress to call a convention.

What happens next is anyone’s guess.

“There really isn’t much of a precedent. We’ll be charting new waters,” said Utah Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, a Republican and a supporter of a constitutional convention. Utah became the 26th state to issue an application last month. North and South Dakota have also approved applications this year.

The problem is that while the Constitution allows amendments to be adopted and sent to the states by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate, or by a national convention called by two-thirds of the states, the founding document is silent on how such a convention would operate. How many delegates each state would receive, the rules under which a convention would operate and who would set the agenda would be left up to Congress — all of those would be open questions.

(Excerpt) Read more at standard.net ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: articlev; libertyamendments
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

Terminate and defund.


61 posted on 04/05/2015 12:45:40 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: cotton1706

This might sound like a good idea, but the powers that be are never going to let anyone else write a new Constitution.


62 posted on 04/05/2015 12:47:44 PM PDT by Tau Food (Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.)
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To: Tau Food

Post #49, please.


63 posted on 04/05/2015 12:49:13 PM PDT by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)
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To: cotton1706

-—and one that could, some opponents predict, lead to complete political chaos. -—

As if a group of nine judges who make law based on penumbras isn’t chaos. Or a president who uses the Constitution for toilet paper.

Whatever amendments are proposed by the convention have to be ratified by the states, just like amendments proposed by Congress. Sheesh.

The first proposal should be congressional term limits.


64 posted on 04/05/2015 12:50:34 PM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: Publius
I don't dispute the theory. However, right now, if a new Constitution were to be drafted, the financial community (banks, insurance companies and brokerage houses) and their lawyers would have more influence than anyone else. Have we learned nothing about our country since 2008? After defrauding nearly everyone and nearly bankrupting our country in the process, our representatives "forced" these crooks to take hundreds of billions of dollars so that we could save the country. And, both political parties joined in the giveaway.

How can anyone doubt who is really running this country? Do you really think that these gangsters are going to turn the country over to a bunch of "regular folks" and hope for the best?

65 posted on 04/05/2015 1:06:50 PM PDT by Tau Food (Never give a sword to a man who can't dance.)
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To: TBP

Sell the buildings.


66 posted on 04/05/2015 1:09:24 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves Month")
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To: Tau Food
No one is attempting to draft a new Constitution. Article V only permits "amendments to this Constitution".

Did you read my post or simply scan it at a surface level?

67 posted on 04/05/2015 1:09:58 PM PDT by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)
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To: Tau Food

But there’s one branch of those powers that has more power than the rest of them combined—the people.


68 posted on 04/05/2015 1:10:02 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: Tau Food

Did you really think the powers you name have absolute control?


69 posted on 04/05/2015 1:11:34 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: Tau Food
if a new Constitution were to be drafted

Who's talking about doing that?

70 posted on 04/05/2015 1:11:49 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves Month")
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To: cotton1706

You know that libs and “moderates” will turn up as well, correct?


71 posted on 04/05/2015 1:12:34 PM PDT by Regal
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To: Tau Food

Why do you think they have to disguise everything they do?


72 posted on 04/05/2015 1:13:20 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: Regal

You’re speaking of people who will follow the crowd. They’re not independent thinkers.


73 posted on 04/05/2015 1:14:00 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: reasonisfaith

The problem is not our Constitution, but our having wandered away from it. The left is always looking for chances to water down the original document. This opportunity could backfire.

The past week in Indiana could be a good example. What started out as a document that sured up the rights of religious people was joined by the left and became a document that protected the “rights” of gays. Just a thought of what has to be guarded against.


74 posted on 04/05/2015 1:17:13 PM PDT by Regal
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To: Regal
You know that libs and “moderates” will turn up as well, correct?

They are in the minority. Many will probably boycott, because they're like that.

75 posted on 04/05/2015 1:23:14 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves Month")
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To: Publius
The Constitution of 1787 may not be abrogated and replaced with a new document. Article V only authorizes “a convention for proposing amendments to this Constitution”; therefore, the Constitution of 1787 is locked in place forever.

Well, that's the design.

This brings up a few questions:

How well are we following the Constitution's design now?

How well is the President following his oath of office?

How effective is Congress holding him to his oath?

How well is the Supreme Court upholding our Constitution's design?

If we were closer to following the Constitution in the first place, I would encourage this convention. But we're not.

I know. Damn the questions and blowback. Full speed ahead.

76 posted on 04/05/2015 1:26:16 PM PDT by Loud Mime (Honor the Commandments because they're not suggestions; don't gamble on forgiveness.)
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To: Loud Mime
If you haven't already, please take a look at:

Federalism: Yesterday and Today", and

Reflections on the 82nd Anniversary of the New Deal.

I've explored this area in uncomfortable detail.

77 posted on 04/05/2015 1:29:27 PM PDT by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)
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To: Regal

In the long run, the strategy of “use their strengths against them” will lose. Whether it’s utilized by the communists or by the Iranians.

Here’s why: the strategy reveals that you have no real strength of your own.


78 posted on 04/05/2015 1:33:26 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: Loud Mime

That’s been my question also,if they(Gov) don’t abide by the constitution now,(which they don’t ), how are new amendments going to be enforced ?


79 posted on 04/05/2015 1:33:55 PM PDT by crosdaddy
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To: Regal

“You know that libs and “moderates” will turn up as well, correct?”

The legislatures will appoint the delegates, and if there are liberal or moderates who propose amendments, they’ll be subject to a vote just like any other amendment. And like any other amendment, should they be approved by the delegates at the convention (voting by state), then they will need to then get through 38 legislatures.

I don’t fear this process just because people who don’t agree with me might be there to propose their own ideas.


80 posted on 04/05/2015 1:34:45 PM PDT by cotton1706 (ThisRepublic.net)
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