Tennessee lawmakers approve 'atomic bomb of politics' (Convention of States)

sun-sentinel.com ^ | 2/4/16

[cotton1706]

Tennessee lawmakers on Thursday joined four other states in calling for a national convention on amending the U.S. Constitution to bring about limits to federal power — what one supporter touted as the "atomic bomb of politics."

The resolution sponsored by Republican Rep. Sheila Butt of Columbia passed on a 59-31 vote in the House. The Senate previously voted 23-5 in favor of the measure. The governor does not have veto power over resolutions passed by the Tennessee General Assembly.

Tennessee joins Alabama, Alaska, Florida and Georgia in approving the measure. A total of 34 states would need to pass the resolution for the convention to be called.

Republican Rep. Judd Matheny of Tullahoma, a supporter of the measure, said the resolution should serve as a signal to the federal government that state legislatures are serious about wanting a greater say.

"This is the atomic bomb of politics," Matheny said. "The federal movement must know the states have mobilized, and we have put an atomic bomb on a plane and it is flying over the District of Columbia. And if they don't listen, then we're going to get done what needs to get done."

[Publius]

Congress has the job of tabulating applications from the states for a convention. When the two thirds threshold is reached, now 34 states, Congress is required to call a convention, that is, set the time and place, and list the subject matter which is extracted from the applications. After that, Congress is out of the picture.

The states appoint delegates who meet, elect their own convention officers, set rules of procedure, and formulate amendment proposals.

Upon adjournment, the proposed amendments are transmitted to Congress which then passes the proposed amendments to the states for ratification. Congress decides whether the states will ratify by state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Go back to my boilerplate post for details.

[Cen-Tejas]

So, basically, an Article V Convention, or Convention of States, substantially limits the federal involvement which is a good thing!

[Publius]

Correct. It is the method that George Mason believed would permit the states to bypass a tyrannical Congress and federal government.

[Lumper20]

It depends on the issue.

[editor-surveyor]

.
I was being sarcastic.