To the Editor:
Is a convention a good idea?
Many good patriots have given a Convention of the States (COS) a thumbs up, trusting the promoters without further consideration. But, more study results in serious concerns.
What Article V of our Constitution actually says is: “The Congress, … on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, …” In other words, it is Congress that calls for a convention. The only thing the states have the authority to do is to apply to Congress to call a convention.
But, according to the COS Handbook, their plan is this: “After the states propose, debate, and vote upon the proposed amendments they will be sent to the 50 state legislatures for ratification. Congress must choose one of two modes of ratification. They can either submit the amendments to state conventions elected for that purpose or to the state legislatures.”
This in no way comports with Article V. It is totally beyond the scope of the Constitution. Does it make sense to fight government’s unconstitutional overreach by unconstitutional means?
The problem is not the Constitution, it is the legislators who fail to honor their oath of office to abide by it. And, if the legislators fail to abide by the Constitution we have now, why think that they would abide by an altered one?
Change Congress, not the Constitution.
Sue Long North, Va.
