Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Constitutional Convention

     Will we have a constitutional convention?  The last constitutional convention was held in 1787.  This convention was called to amend the Articles of Confederation, but instead wrote the Constitution we have today. 

     Amending the Constitution is covered in Article V of the Constitution as follows:

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, also as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by the conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which man 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.

     The 27th Amendment is the last amendment to the Constitution. It concerns congressional pay increases, and was actually one of the original amendments proposed in 1789.  It took over 200 years for the states to ratify the amendment.  The 26th amendment, changing the voting age to 18, was proposed 43 years ago. 
   All amendments to our Constitution have been proposed and passed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and then ratified by three-fourths of the States, but Article V of the Constitution clearly states that the states can also initiate an amendment by calling for a constitutional convention. 
     In March of 2014 Michigan lawmakers voted to call for a constitutional convention to demand a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. constitution.  Michigan was the 34th state to call for a federal balanced budget amendment.  That is the two-thirds majority needed to call a constitutional convention. 
     This has never happened in the history of this country and I would think it is big news, but have you heard anything about it by the media?  It is clear that the political elite does not want a balanced budget or a constitutional convention.  The lame steam media is certainly not giving it any coverage.  I have not even heard anything on Fox news, but I may have missed it.
     Progressives are questioning if Michigan is actually the 34th state to call for a constitutional convention as the call for an amendment from some states may be decades old, or may have been recalled.  Some scholars say the valid number may be as low as 18 states. 
     The time factor should not be a consideration as it took over 200 years for three-fourths of the states to ratify the 27th Amendment.  Another question is if a state can legally rescind the call for a convention once it is made.   I am not sure of this one, but I hope the states in question confirm their demand for a federal balanced budget and more states follow.
     I understand why the career politician and political elite don’t want to be forced to a balanced budget.  Our present government doesn’t appear capable of passing a budget, let alone balancing a budget.  I am convinced a balanced budget amendment is long overdue in order to control the growth of government, government spending, and government debt.  Government debt will increase more during President Obama’s term than during the previous 43 presidents’ terms.
     Maybe the threat to call a constitutional convention will motivate Congress and the President to act in a fiscally responsible manner. 
     Or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

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