Convention of States: Ohio lawmakers calling for state to join movement for constitutional assembly

Justthenews.com ^ | 5/30/21 | John Styf

[cotton1706]

Two Ohio lawmakers plan to introduce a resolution this week calling for a convention of states to address the size of the federal government.

State Reps. Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) and Craig Riedel (R-Defiance) said they plan to introduce the resolution, which would create a convention that could discuss the topics of "limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, term limits for Congress and other government officials, and fiscal restraints for the federal government."

"The size and scope of the federal government have long been unsustainable, and we have waited long enough for Congress to fix itself," McClain said.

Having 34 states — or two-thirds of the 50 states — call for a convention is one of two mechanisms to propose a constitutional amendment. The other is direct action from Congress.

Fifteen other states have passed a similar resolution. Georgia was the first state to pass a resolution to create a convention in March 2016. Since then, Alaska, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arizona, North Dakota, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Utah and Mississippi have passed a resolution, according to the organization Convention of States Action.

Nine other states — New Mexico, Iowa, South Dakota, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin and New Hampshire — have had the resolution pass at least one chamber of their legislatures.

"I support term limits for office members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives because it holds public officials accountable throughout their political careers," Riedel said. "This resolution aims to increase the opportunity for competition for new members to bring diverse ideas and experiences to reviewing and amending federal laws while providing a necessary check on the current power of the Legislative Branch.”

[Starboard]

Congress created the Federal Reserve in 1913

**************

That would be the Creature from Jekyll Island.

[abbastanza]

But that is not what will happen. Every crook in the government will be there, and there will be plenty of them. This won’t turn out like we think it will.

[Starboard]

Relevant article FYI...

https://wirepoints.org/with-delegitimized-government-looming-honor-this-memorial-day-differently-wirepoints/

[PerConPat]

A secure and honest electoral system is the basis for any peaceful, functional effort to bring about change. Otherwise it's dysfunction and chaos. We are getting closer to the latter each day.

If enough states can't refine and protect the integrity of their elections, no amount of Constitutional steps will restore a democratic republic.

[KingLudd]

“This won’t turn out like we think it will.”

You’re right. If COS happens, it will be a disaster. They will absolutely and once-and-for-all destroy the Bill of Rights.

[Pontiac]

Every crook in the government will be there, and there will be plenty of them. This won’t turn out like we think it will.

The people there will be chosen by the State Legislatures.

They will be restricted by law as to the amendments that they can vote on and how they must vote.

That doesn’t leave much room for the delegates to be crooked.

Unlike the Convention of 1787 instantaneous communication is easily available so there is no need for the delegates to make decisions on their own.

Most likely the convention would be broadcast by CSPAN so all of the country’s patriots can keep an eye on the proceedings.

I would think that any shenanigans would be kept to a minimum.

Now while most of the State’s legislatures are in Republican hands is the time to strike.

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

You say, “With a convention of states our Constitution can literally be stolen from us in broad daylight the same way.”

What?!? The only thing that can come out of it are proposed amendments, that still must be ratified by 38(!!!) states. So take a deep breath, and a chill pill, and read the chapter in the Constitution describing the procedure:

Article V, U.S. Constitution
* * * * * * * * * *

Article V

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.”

Where in that is the possibility you describe? Quit spreading disinformation.

We have some seriously ignorant people here.

[bigfootbob]

You are so naive. As a former COS supporter, I cannot support this now. Just because there’s limitations, Robert’s Rules of Order gives savvy operators wiggle room to advance agendas regardless of what the established rules are going in.

Because the delegates are chosen by the state legislatures, I’m even more convinced that at this time in the history of the United States opening a COS is like playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded revolver.

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

“If COS happens, it will be a disaster. They will absolutely and once-and-for-all destroy the Bill of Rights.”

See post #27. Read it, then tell me exactly how that is remotely probable. What propose amendments could come out, and GET PASSED BY 38 STATES, that would destroy the bill of rights? Name the 38 states. Heck, name 25.

But you can’t, so let’s hear your word salad deflection.

Right?

[Publius]

There is a move afoot to get Ohio to apply for a convention using Georgia’s application language.

[Publius]

Once more I will post the analysis of Article V which I had vetted by a retired professor of constitutional law.

***

THE ARTICLE V AMENDATORY PROCESS

The amendatory process under Article V consists of three steps:

1. Proposal;
2. Direction;
3. Ratification.

Proposal:

There are two ways to propose an amendment to the Constitution.

• The Congressional method requires the House and Senate to pass an amendment by a two thirds majority of each house.
• The amendments convention method requires the legislatures of two thirds of the states to pass resolutions directing Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments. These resolutions are called applications. Once the two thirds threshold is reached, Congress is required to set a time and place for the convention.

Article V gives Congress and an amendments convention exactly the same power to propose amendments, except that a convention is limited to proposing amendments specified in the application and there is no such limit on Congress.

Direction:

Once Congress, or an amendments convention, proposes amendments, Congress must decide whether the states will ratify by the:

• State legislature method, or the
• State ratifying convention method.

The state ratifying convention method has only been used once: to ratify the 21st Amendment repealing Prohibition. A similar procedure was used to ratify the Constitution itself.

Ratification:

Depending upon which ratification method is chosen by Congress, either the state legislatures vote up-or-down on the proposed amendment, or the voters elect a state ratifying convention to vote up-or-down. If three fourths of the states vote to ratify, the amendment becomes part of the Constitution.

Forbidden Subjects:

Article V contains two explicitly forbidden subjects and two implicitly forbidden subjects.

Explicitly forbidden:

1. No amendment may be added to the Constitution concerning the slave trade or direct taxes until 1808. We’re well past that deadline.
2. No amendment may be added to the Constitution to change the principle of equal representation in the Senate unless every state deprived of that right approves. If California wants five senators, every state must have five senators. To permit violation of this principle, every state would have to ratify the amendment, not just three fourths.

Implicitly forbidden:

1. 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;” so the Constitution of 1787 is locked in place.
2. A convention for proposing amendments is limited to the topics authorized by state applications.

Reference works:

Proposing Constitutional Amendments by a Convention of the States: A Handbook for State Lawmakers

[DIRTYSECRET]

Put the negotiators in the same building wearing the same clothes(+wigs) for the 2-3 months the original took. Then see what happens.

[Jacquerie]

I’m late.

[Jacquerie]

I’ll echo servantboy777 and Shady who simply asked a straightforward question. Ya’ll didn’t answer.

What is the alternative?

[Jacquerie]

If you fear a COS will:

Ban conservatives and President Trump from social media.
Rig future federal elections in favor of the rats.
Declare homosexuality, transgenderism, and fag marriage a 14th Amendment right.
Eradicate the internal combustion engine by 2035.
Sell out the US to the Chicoms.
Federalize child care, K-12 and local zoning.
Force Critical Race Theory throughout the national government, military, public schools and universities.
Equate patriots with domestic terrorists.
Open our borders.
Inflate our currency into worthlessness.
Use FISA warrants to continue spying on President Trump, Rudy Giulliani and any other opponent.
Equate Christianity with hate speech.

Then by all means, stand against the states that are strengthening the 2A, passing statutes to combat Obamunism and can truly represent their people in the face of accelerating tyranny.

[Jacquerie]

<>I agree. The people who”ll run this Constitutional Convention won't be nearly as smart as the people who wrote the first one.<>

Without the Revolutionary War, history wouldn't know the Founders or Framers. The times challenged everyone, and these men rose to the occasion.

Thanks to their character, courage and wisdom, modern delegates to a COS need only restore the Framers’ Senate of the States to begin the process of restoring free government.

Restore first principles. Repeal the 17th Amendment.

[bankwalker]

Repeal the 17th Amendment.

first ... the 19th ...

[Jacquerie]

Article V opponents typically equate an Article V state amendments convention with congress, an institution in which freedoms and rights are easily traded away today for money, media support, and reelection tomorrow.

This is an erroneous comparison, for congress is popularly derived and thoroughly corrupted from its designed purposes. An Article V convention will be new, fresh, uncorrupted and federal, just like the only other remaining federal institution from 1787, the familiar Electoral College (EC).

Like an Article V amendments convention, the EC is extra-congressional and completely controlled by the states. Not only congress, but the executive and judiciary have no more authority to regulate or participate in the deliberations or parliamentary rules of an Article V Convention than they do to control the EC. Both of these federal institutions derive their independence from discrete sources in the Constitution itself. Like the EC, and unlike congress, an Article V convention is temporary, and neither can be made subservient to any branch of the government. This renders the Article V convention distinct from, and superior to, the three existing branches.

The John Birch Society v. Article V.

[Jacquerie]

<>If enough states can’t refine and protect the integrity of their elections, no amount of Constitutional steps will restore a democratic republic.<>

The rat/media/Deep State own DC. I’ve little doubt they will somehow pass HB/SB 1, which means one party rule. We think our situation is awful now Unlike pubbies, the rats know what to do with power, and they will use it to grind opponents into atoms.

A COS is consistent with our Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

A COS will be an end run, a flanking movement around Washington for which the rats have no defense.

[Jacquerie]

Just keep voting. As if it matters.

You don’t know the outcome of a COS.

From what the rats have done in just a few months, we have real good clues as to where they will take the United States.