Article V Citizens Initiative
Citizen Guardian is conducting a grassroots citizens initiative to build momentum for a Constitutional process that gives states more power to turn back legislation and regulations of an over-reaching federal government. The Madison Amendment effort is gaining support across the country to add such a method to the Constitution that gives states exactly this ability. In order to pressure legislatures and Congress to support the Madison Amendment, Citizen Guardian is promoting the existing authority given the states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, where 2/3rds of the states, upon application to Congress, can initiate a Constitutional convention process. Though there has been only one constitutional convention in 1787, many state legislatures have subsequently made application to Congress for another convention, however none has been called by Congress. A number of organizations and citizens have renewed their efforts to support the Madison Amendment and harness Article V that the Founders wisely included for states and their citizens as a protection against an over-reaching federal government. Because 3/4ths of the states must ratify amendments proposed by the convention, there is little prospect of a 'runaway' convention. In fact, only 17 amendments have been issued by and ratified in the 235 years since the first convention. However, Congress and the state legislatures must feel the pressure for a Convention in order to support the Madison Amendment. Click here to read Article V... Article V - Amendment
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.
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