Article V Handbook

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A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS .I






About the American Legislave Exchange Council

Pri Ct Amdmt by Cv th

Stt: A Hdbk r Stt Lwmkr h b bihd

by th Amric Liv Exch Cci (ALEC) rt

it mii t dic, dv, d dimit bic ici,

which xd r mrkt, rmt cmic rwth, imit

th iz vrmt, d rrv idivid ibrty. ALEC

i th ’ rt -r, vtry mmbrhi r-

iz tt itr, with 2,000 mmbr cr th

. ALEC i vrd by Brd Dirctr tt -

itr, which i dvid by Privt Etrri Brd, rr-

mjr crrt d d r. ALEC i c-

id by th Itr Rv Srvic 501(c)(3) rt,

bic icy d dc riz. Idivid, hi-

thric d, crr, cmi, r ci

r iib t rt ALEC’ wrk thrh tx-ddcb i.

About ALEC’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force

Th mii ALEC’ Tx d Fic Picy Tk Frc i t x-

r icy tht rdc xciv vrmt d-

i, rmt d tx icy, d hc trrcy

vrmt r.

Pbic Sctr Chirm: Idi S. Jim Bck

Privt Sctr Chirm: Bb Wiim

Tk Frc Dirctr: Jth Wiim

Pbihd by

Amric Liv Exch Cci

1101 Vrmt Av., NW, 11th Fr

Whit, D.C. 20005

Ph: (202) 466-3800

Fx: (202) 466-3801

www.c.r

Pri Ct Amdmt by Cv th

Stt: A Hdbk r Stt Lwmkr

© 2011, 2013 Amric Liv Exch Cci

A riht rrvd. Exct rmid dr th Uitd

Stt Cyriht Act 1976, rt thi bic my

b rrdcd r ditribtd i y rm r by y m, r

trd i dtb r rtriv ytm witht th rir r-

mii th bihr.

About the Author

Rb Nt i Amric’ bt kw c-

t chr. H rvd w rr r 25

yr t thr dirt ivr-

i. Am thr bjct, h

tht Ct Lw d

bcm rcizd

xrt th rmi d

d th Uitd Stt

Ct. H ird th

rc mtri, ch

imrtt Fdi Er w

bk, vrkd by thr

writr, d h h b th

rt t cvr ky ct bt

m th mt iict

rt th Ct. Rb

h wri r m th

mt ri cdmic bihr, icdi Cm-

brid Uivrity Pr, th Harvard Journal of Law and

Public Policy, d Texas Law Review.

Thr r vr ky t Rb’ cc chr. U-

ik mt ct writr, h h cdmic trii

t mry i w r i hitry, bt i bth, w i

th L cic tht wr th mity Fdi-Er

dc. H wrk hrd t k hi hitric iv-

bjcv. Mt cric, hwvr, hv b -

d hbit rd i th “r wrd”—br hicdmic crr b, Rb rccd w i tw tt,

r tw rt bi, d rvd rr

r tt w cmit r th Rocky Mountain News.

Ltr, h crtd d htd Mt’ rt ttwid

cmmrci rdi tk hw d bcm Mt’ bt

kw ic cvit—di, m thr cm-

i—th mt cc rrdm driv

i th hitry th tt. H hd h thrh

vr imrtt ic Mt i, d i

J 2000, w th rr- m v cdidt i

th rty rimri r Gvrr Mt. Fr rc-

r, Rb d m i th rt tdr, whrh rcry jy hiki d kii with hi wi d

thr dhtr.

Rb crrty rv Sir Fw i Ct J-

rirdc t th Iddc Itt i Dvr, C-

rd, d Sir Fw i Ct Jrirdc

t th Mt Picy Itt i Bzm, Mt.

Nthi i thi Hdbk hd b ctrd

dvic; k cmtt c i yr w tt.



A M E R I C A N L E G I S L A T I V E E X C H A N G E C O U N C I L

PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

ii

Acknowledgements

Th Amric Liv Exch Cci wih t

ckwd th wi r wh ctrib-

td t thi Hdbk:

Firt, w thk Jth Wiim, Mh Archr,

Lr Ei, K Sic, Ki Tkcz, d Chri

Hrbi r thir wrk thi bic. W

thk R Schbr, Mich Bwm, d th rt

th ALEC t wh hd mk thi bic

ib.

Fiy, w thk Idi Str Jim Bck, Ariz

Str D Shtr, Bb Wiim, Dr. Brry

P, L Br, Pt S, d Brt Md r

thir rt d xr.



A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS

Foreword

Sicry,

Jim Bck

Idi Stt Str

Chir, Tx d Fic Picy Tk Frc

Amric Liv Exch Cci

cv t r bcd bdt mdmt t

th Ct. Sic th, my thr tt hv -

wd it.

Bci r bdt trcd rty ic. N mt-

tr wh ctr Cr r th ridcy, r $15

trii dr (d rwi) dbt wi rmi

vr-rt hrd t cmic rwth d rcvry.

Th rbm w’t b i wy y m , ithr.

Mr th 30 yr dcit ct b vd with

y yr icy.

Tdy Amric c crti cmic tr.

Mii Amric r myd, d m v

t Amric c w rm i cmic mdic-

rity. Sdi rv it mr dbt w’t v tht

rbm; i ct, di wi y mk it wr. Stt

itr mt tk th -ihtd viw d xrci

r riht withi th Ct t imit Cr’ bi-

ity t driv r it rthr cmic dcy. Thi

Hdbk i yr id t chivi tht .

Dr ALEC Mmbr,

Tim i ri t. Or i trii dr i

dbt witht crdib t t di. Th b

i Cr h ctd t it whr ic t-

wih th ct r cmic tr, d thr i i

h r ’ dr wi mk th th chic

tht d t b md i rdr t ri i r dbt d

rviv r cmy. Frtty, thr i t-

id Cr— tht Prr Rb Nt

ti i thi Hdbk.

Or Fdr kw th imrtc chck d b-

c. I th Uitd Stt Ct, thy mr-

td th mt imrtt r tt hv i

ki th dr vrmt i chck. Udr Arc

V, tt r rtd th riht t rqir Cr t c

cv th tt, dri which tt c r-

mdmt t th Ct. Fr dcd w

hv wd Cr t r rmt, di it

. I 30 yr, Cr h md t bc

th bdt y twic.

It i r t y r th rritr r ’

d t d witht imit d tid r, bttht i mthi tht c b rmdid. Th i

mdmt t th Ct tht im rt-

r cctbiity Cr d rqir bcd

bdt. Th ch mdmt wd

d t r di d t xcd rv d

rhibit brrwi my t mk r y hr.

I 1957, my tt Idi w th rt t y r





iv

h bcd bdt mdmt i vrwhm-

iy rtd by th Amric .P by

CNN, Fx Nw, d M-Dix hw tht ry

thr-rth Amric vr bcd bdt

mdmt t th U.S. Ct. With th

dbt rchi it k mr th $15 trii d ri-

i, th m t bc th bdt i w. Nry vry

tt i th i y bd by thir ct-

t bc it bdt. With xric i bc-

i bdt yr r yr, tt r mt itd t

r mdmt t th U.S. Ct tht

rqir bcd federal bdt. Stt itr c

ccmih thi by ci Arc V Cv th

tt.

Th Hdbk y r bt t rd, wri by c-

t chr Rbrt G. Nt, rvid tt i-

tr th rr t t th Arc V rc y

d cvy. Addiy, it r rib irm-

bt th tt ic d cv rc

bd thrh d bjcv chrhi.

I th rt c th Hdbk, Nt y th

rdwrk r th Arc V rc. Imrtty, hxi wht th cv rc i t: “i-

try,” r th cmt rwri r Ct.

Nt mmriz th Fdr’ it b-

hid icdi Arc V i th Ct d dcrib

hw hitry c b r wht cv

wd k ik tdy. My q bt th rc

ccr th r crt i Arc V. Ui bth c

w d hi xtiv ct w bckrd,

Nt hihiht hw th crt miht b ivvd i

thi rc.

Ar dici Arc V hitry d it ky yr,

Nt tk tt itr thrh th rc t-

by-t. Frm mki ic t rc, tt

itr wi r th mi th Arc V rc

d hw bt t rr ic i thir tt.

Frthr, thi Hdbk dbk th myth rwy

cv. Nt mk cmi rmt r

why tt hd t wrry bt cric’ r tht

cv th tt wd rt i cmt tk-

vr th U.S. Ct.

Fiy, Nt rvid rcc rcmmd

r tt tht ch t y r cv thrh

th Arc V rc. Nt cr itr t

rmt th riht mdmt, th riht mt

cicity, d k th rc withi th tt’ c-

tr.

W h tht y wi d thi Hdbk irmv

d y mbrk dvtr vr br

ccmihd i r ’ hitry. W wih y th

bt ck.

T

Executive Summary



Table of ContentsI. Introducon

II. The Constuon’s State Applicaon and Convenon Process

III. Judicial Review

IV. The State Applicaon and Convenon Process: Step-By-Step

A. Mki ic

B. Hw d ic t?

C. Th ic i Cr d th “c”

D. Sc dt (“cmmiir”)

E. Th Cv

F. Rc

V. The Myth of a Runaway Convenon

VI. Praccal Recommendaons for the State Applicaon and Convenon Process

VII. Conclusion

Adix A: Attd Frm r Bcd Bdt Amdmt

Adix B: Di Trm

Adix C: Awr t Cricim

Adix D: Whr D thi Hdbk Gt It Irm?


6

8

11

12

12

13

13

14

15

16

17

19

23

24

31

32

36





6

I. Introduction

My tt wmkr, ik Amric ry, biv

tht ici i Whit, D.C. hv t ccy

ctrd di i rct yr. Tht h t xi

tr bic itrt i bcd bdt mdmt,

m thr r. Bid mi h dbt,

dr chdr hv dirrdd idivid

ibrty d ct imit thir w wr.

Mrvr, my dr chdr m t ct

th ct r th tt. Icriy, tt

wmkr drtd wht th Fdr id rt-

dy: Federalism works only if the states respond eec-

vely when the federal government exceeds or abuses its

powers.

This Handbook:

• r rib irm bt th tt

ic d cv rc, bd

thrh d bjcv chrhi;

• crrct miirm; d

• mk it ir r tt wmkr t

th rc y d cvy.

O r th Fdr irtd it th Ct

mthd mdmt w t b tr r

hrh Arc V, r Amric Fdr ddd

wy r th tt t rmt mdmt

t th Ct dircty, rthr th by mry

i Cr. Thi i cd th state applicaon

and convenon process. Rct dbt vr bcd

bdt mdmt t th Ct h rvkd

itrt i thi rcdr. Thi Hdbk i yr id t

drtdi d i it.

Thi Hdbk i wri r tt wmkr, rt

t, d thr itrtd Amric. Th i t -

b tt wmkr t my th tt ic d

cv rc th Fdr itdd: y,cvy, d y. Thi Hdbk r ccrt,

w-rrchd irm bt th rc, icdi

hw t trir it, vb rd, d rm.

Thi Hdbk crrct cmm myth bt th

rcdr—rh th rmt which i tht th

cv thrizd by Arc V i “ct

cv.”

“Federalism works only

if the states respondeectively when the federal

government exceeds or

abuses its powers.”

T



A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS I

t k r Bic Lw t dt—bt tht w t th

y r. Th Fdr irtd th mdmt

rcdr t r rvi ct dit

d r crrc xc d b. Bc thy rc-

izd tht xc d b cd cm rm ithr

th tt r th dr vrmt, thy hid tw

trv wy r ri mdmt r tt

rc:

• by r dtd by tw-third bth

h Cr, d

• by thri dt tt itr

tht th Ct c convenon for propos-

ing amendments.

Othr cctb m r cv r r-

i mdmt r amendments convenon, conven-

on of the states, d Arcle V convenon. (Fr r

xid i c II it i iccrt d midi t

c cv r ri mdmt “ct-

cv.”)

Th cri-r mthd h b d v-

r m t crrct state b. Fr xm, Cr

rd th 14th, 15th, d 24th Amdmt t r-

tri tt ri miri.1 Bt th r th

tt hv vr xrcid thir crrdi wr

t crrct federal b. A rt, th ct

di h bcm bcd.

T crrct r thi imbc, th Amric Liv

Exch Cci (ALEC) h rcmmdd vr

ct mdmt t imit m th wrt

b dr wr—m th, bcd bd-

t mdmt (BBA).2 Exct r r Prhibi,

hwvr, Cr h t rwrdd t th tt y

mdmt imi it w wr ic rvi th

Bi Riht i 1789. Th, dit rcrrt h

tk bt hw Cr miht dt BBA r thr cr-

rcv mdmt it w, hitry t rrm-

r ct dd tht. Th tt mt d th jb,

r Fdr xctd thm t d.

Athh tt wmkr hv iitd th tt i-

c d cv rc my m, thy vr

hv crrid it t cm. Hitricy, thr r

my r r thi, bt ic th 1960 rici

r r thi ct h b rmim bd mi-

irm ( tic xid tr i c V). Idd,

my th wri bihd bt th tt ic-

d cv rc ic th 1960 hv b

bd mr wrk th ri hitric r

iv. My mr wri th bjct

r imy bri rm d rthr th

rc cmt d ccrt irm. Hwvr,

thr hv b w id tdi th rc, d

th rcmmd i thi Hdbk r bd

thir rrch d cci ( Adix D).





8

h 55 Frmr wh mt i Phidhi dri th

ri d mmr 1787 drtd tht thy

wr dri Ct t t vry m.

“W r t rmi r Dy Mth Yr r A,”

dt Jh Dicki wrt, “bt r Etrity.”

O cr, dcmt did t t vry m

mt icd mthd mdmt. I cri thir

mdmt rcdr, th Frmr rrtd t tw

mchim widy myd t th m: itr

d cv.

Dri th Fdi Er, “cv” w y

ad hoc mby did t ich-hit r itr.

Tdy w td t thik cv “ct-

cv,” bt dri th Fdi Er mt

th thri wr t “ct” t . Mt

wr imy tk rc id t rcmmd -

t r-cid rbm. Othr wr tbihd

t ry th wrk d by thr. Th Ct -

thriz thr kid imitd r cv: O

kid t ry th Ct it, thr t ry

mdmt, d third t ct tk rc t rcm-

md t r-cid rbm. Th cv- r ri mdmt i i th third ctry.

Th hitric rcrd t wht th Fdr hd i

mid wh thy thrizd cv r ri

mdmt: Thy viid itrtt r “d-

r” cv—tht i, mby cmd

tt d (“cmmi”) rib t thir

rcv tt itr d r, t t ii-

y, ccrdi t r tt/ vt. Athh

th ct i t widy kw tdy, itr-ci d

(r Iddc) itrtt cv wr cm-

mc dri th 18 ctry: Thr wr w vr

twty thm.3 Thy wr mdd r dimc

cv m rt vri.

Th d d wr itrtt cv wr

xd by th rci tt, mm r c-

ri rcmmd, mm t. Uy th

d w iry rrw. Fr itc, th itrtt

cv hd i Yrktw, Pyvi i 1777 w

trtd y with i ric i. Th 1781

itrtt cv hd i Prvidc, Rhd Id

w rtrictd t miitry y r i yr.

Th c cv r ri mdmt i

imiry rrw. A Jm Mdi md cr, it i t

wht di Fdr cd “itry cv-

.” I thr wrd, it i t mby with vry wid

thrity, ch chrd with dri r dt-

i Ct. Thus, it is simply incorrect to refer to

a convenon for proposing amendments as a “constu-onal convenon.” Thy r dirt crtr ry.4

Th cv r ri mdmt w bd

cmrb rvii i tt ct tht r-

dtd th U.S. Ct. O th w Arc 63

th 1777 Gri Ct. It rtd t mjr-

ity c th wr t r mdmt,

T

II. The Constitution’s State Applicationand Convention Process: What It Is



In summary, please note:

• Jt thr rt th Ct rt

Cr crti itd (“mrtd”) w-

r, Arc V rt mrtd wr.

Arc V rt thm t named assemblies

(convenons and legislatures) and not to

states or the federal government as a whole.6

Th xcv brch dr d tt

vrmt d t hv y r i th

mdmt rc.

• Pri mdmt thrh cv-

, i Cr, i y mthd

proposing mdmt. N mdmt i

cv rd by thr-rth

th tt (w 38 50).

• T b dy raed, mdmt rt mt

b dy proposed by Cr r by itr-

tt cv cd t th bht tw-

third (w 34) th tt itr.

• A cv r ri mdmt h

rciy th m wr tht Cr h

t r mdmt. It wr t r-

i imitd by th bjct mr ci-

d i tt ic—but by no other

authority whatsoever . Th cv i

dibrv bdy wh mmbr wr t

th tt itr thy rrt.

• Th cv r ri mdmt i

bicy dri cmmi r tk rc,

cvd t rdc r mr r

id t cic .

A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS II

which “th mby [itr] h rdr

cv t b cd r tht r, ciyi th

tr t b md, ccrdi t th r-

rrd t th mby by th mjrity th c

rid.” I thr wrd, th Gri Ct

bd th c t dit wht kid md-

mt thy wtd, rdrd th itr t c th

cv, d mwrd tht cv t writ

th cic .

I th U.S. Ct tw-third tt itr

(w 34 50) itd mjrity c:

Th Cr, whvr tw third bth

H h dm it cry, h r

Amdmt t thi Ct, or, on the

Applicaon of the Legislatures of two thirds of

the several States, shall call a Convenon for

proposing Amendments, which, i ithr C,

h b vid t Itt d Pr,

Prt thi Ct, wh rd by th

Litr thr rth th vr Stt,

r by Cv i thr rth thr, th

r th thr Md Rc my b

rd by th Cr; Prvidd tht . . .

Stt, witht it Ct, h b drivd

it q Sr i th St.5 (Itic ddd.)

A i th Gri rtty, th U.S. Ct rt

md mbi (itr, cv) ditd

r i th mdmt rc. Th Ct iv

Cr thrity t r mdmt d, r y

mdmt (hwvr rd), t ch m tw

md rc. Th Ct mwr

tt itr t rc Cr t c mdmt

cv d mwr th cv t r.

Th Ct rthr thriz tt itr d

tt cv t ry. Thi viw Arc V—

rt mrtd wr t md mbi—h

b dtd by th U.S. Srm Crt.

W kw th cv rc wrk rcc

mr, bc r th Ct w dtd,

th tt d y th m rcdr r th

Whit Crc Cv i 1861.





10

h rcrd th Ct Cv

hw tht iiy th dt cid-

rd dr which only itrtt c-

v wd dr d ry mdmt.

O th Axdr Hmit

Nw Yrk, th Frmr trd th tht

Cr bcm th drr/rr d

th tt bcm rr. Hmit rd

tht Cr hd hv wr t r

bc it diy cvity wd t dd

ch.

Thi bthrd Gr M Virii, wh

brvd tht Cr miht bcm r-

iv d r t r crrcv md-

mt—rcry mdmt imi it

w wr. S by im vt th tt,

th dt ddd mdmt cv-

t w th tt t by Cr. Th

wrdi Arc V i y th wrk

Jm Mdi.

Why Not Just Leave Amendments to the

Discretion of Congress Alone?

TIn summary, please note:

• Th rici r r th tt ic-

d cv rc i t b th

tt t chck riv r rwy

Cr—thh th Ct d

t cty imit th rc t tht r.

• Th Frmr xicity did th rc

t b th tt t bty bypass

Cr.



III. Judicial Review

A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS III

it m t th ctrry rm d

Srm Crt dcii,7 it i w cr tht the

courts can and will resolve Arcle V disputes. A crt

miht hv t dcid whthr iv r

qi “ic,” ic r cit

t rqir Cr t c cv, r cv

r i vid “r” tht c b rd.

Fr tt wmkr, th bd w i jdici rviw i

tht r d t mdmt my t bck

thm. Th d w twih tht, bc it i bt-

tr tht th crt, rthr th Cr, d d

rc th tt ic d mdmt rc.

I Cr r t crry t th d mdtd by

Arc V, th crt c rdr Cr t d . I d-

di, jdici rviw hd rtct th ct

r th tt itr. Rc tht th ctr r-

th tt ic d cv rc t

b tt itr t by Cr i ri

mdmt. Crt ry ctr rvii

t rthr thir ctr r.

D





12

IV. The State Application and ConventionProcess: Step-By-Step

What is an applicaon? A tt itr ki

mdmt cv dt r cd

“ic.” Th ic hd b ddrd t

Cr. It hd rt cicy d qivc-

y tht it i ic t Cr r cv

rt t Arc V. Th r hd t mry

rqt tht Cr r rcr mdmt,

r hd it mry rqt tht Cr c cv-

. A xm cv i w:

Th itr th Stt ______ hr-

by i t Cr, dr th rvi-

i Arc V th Ct th

Uitd Stt, r th ci cv-

th tt . . .

Who may apply? Th Ct rt th riht t

y xcivy t th tt legislatures. Aic

d t b id by th vrr, d my t b v-

td, ythi i th tt ct r w twith-tdi. Mrvr, yi ct b dtd t th

vi iiv r rrdm, ythi i th tt

ct r w twithtdi. Hwvr, th i-

tr th vrr d t ividt ic-

, r d iiv r rrdm tht i ry

advisory i tr.

The scope of the convenon sought . A itr my

y r cv—tht i, t imitd t

bjct mr. Sch ic miht rd:

Th itr th Stt ______

hrby i t Cr, dr th r-

vii Arc V th Ct

th Uitd Stt, r th ci c-

v th tt r ri md-

mt t th Ct.

Fw , hwvr, r itrtd i c-

v r i cv r th k cv.

Gry, th i t dvc mdmt di-

ct ty, with th cv imitd t tht r.

A ic r imitd cv miht rd:

Th itr th Stt ______

hrby i t Cr, dr th r-

vii Arc V th Ct

th Uitd Stt, r th ci c-

v th tt imitd t ri

mdmt t th Ct th

Uitd Stt rqiri [here state general nature of the amendment ]. 8

Athh ic my imit cv t r

mr bjct, th xi c w strongly t

tht ic my t mt t dictt rcr

wrdi r r t th cv r my th i-

c mt t crc Cr r thr tt i-

A. Making an applicaon.



A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS IV

tr. A th crt hv rd rtdy, mbi

(Cr, tt itr, d cv) r -

td t m dibrv rdm wh ivvd i

Arc V rcdr. A ic my suggest r-

cr r r r th cv, bt t vid

ci, hd b cd y i -

rt, ccmyi r.

Sm ic, whi t m t im -

cic th cv, mt t dictt th

dti th mdmt’ trm. Th mr dti th

ic mdt, th mr iky crt wi i-

vidt it m t rtrict dy th cv-

’ dibrv rdm. Addiy, th mr trm

ic ci, th iky it wi mtch th

trm thr ic, r i cri r

jdici r t rt thm tthr twrd th

tw-third thrhd.

Th, ir r vr itr yi -

dr Arc V: (1) Thy my imit th bjct mr

th cv bt (2) thy my t dictt rcr

wrdi. Th bdri mk i y thik

th cv wht it ry i: A cmmi r tk

rc chrd with vi ditd rbm. Wh

chri tk rc i bi r vrmt, y

irm it mmbr th rbm y wt thm t

ddr. Y d’t t thm t ivt ythi thy

wih. Addiy, c y hv iv th tk rc

imt, y d’t dictt . T rv it r-

th tk rc h t b r t cidr dirt

. Othrwi thr wd b d r r

th tk rc.


• A “ic” i tt iv r-

dirc Cr t c cv

r ri r mr mdmt.

• Aic my imit th c th c-

v t rcr bjct mr.

• Aic my rcmmd, bt t dic-

tt, rcr wrdi t th cv.

• Aic rth dtid trm r

th mdmt r idvib bth

d rcc rd.

• Rcmmd r bt ttd i ccm-

yi r.

A ic rbby t it i dy rcidd.

Sm hv rd tht dr ic rw “t”

r cid m d thir vidity. Hwvr,

thi rmt rbby d t hv mrit. Th wr

t rcid c th tw-third thrhd i

rchd, r rh hrty thrr.9

A ic rbby my rvid tht it i tm-

cy trmitd rcr dt r th ccr-

rc cic vt— th trmi c-

di i t rt t crc Cr, thr tt, r

th cv. Th, rvii i mt iky vid i it

y, “Thi ic, i t rir rcidd, h tr-

mit Dcmbr 31, 2015.” A vid wd b thi

: “Thi ic, i t rir rcidd, h

b d vid i Cr h r bcd bd-

t mdmt t th U.S. Ct.” O th thr

hd, crt my dm m kid tmc trmi-

t b crciv, d thrr vid. A cr xm

wd b rvii tmcy trmi th -

ic th cv wd cid r

r dtd mdmt i cid .

“ Aggregaon” of applicaons. Wh 34 tt i-

tr hv bmid ic th m bjct,

B. How long does an applicaon last?

C. The applicaons in Congress and the “call.”





14

th Ct requires Cr t c cv

r ri mdmt. Bth th hitric d -

bckrd Arc V d mdr cmmtry

criy tht th cri r t thi it i mry

“miitri” rthr th “dicrry.” I thr wrd,

th Ct i Cr r dty it mt

rrm. It i imrtt t t, hwvr, tht cr-

i rcit 34 ic i t cit; th

ic mt rt t th m bjct mr.

Hitricy m mmbr Cr hv trid t d

xc r vidi y dty t c cv.10 O

ibiity i tht Cr my r t “rt” t-

wrd th tw-third thrhd y ic tht try

t dictt t th cv dirt wy vi th

m rbm. Th, i 17 tt hv id r c

bcd bdt mdmt d thr 17 hv -

id r bcd bdt mdmt with rqir-

mt tw-third vt t ri tx, Cr my

r t trt bth r ddri th m b-

jct. Th mr dirc xhibitd by th ic,

th mr jc Cr wi hv i ri t

rt thm.

O wy t rt ch btrc i t ciy i th

ic tht it b rtd with crti thr tt

ic. Fr xm, ic my icd

th wi :

Thi ic i t b cidrd cv-

ri th m bjct mr y thr

ic r bcd bdt md-

mt, irrcv th trm th

ic, d h b rtd with

thm r th r rchi th tw

third tt cry t rqir th

ci cv.

A trv miht b t m ic rdy

bmid by thr tt:

Thi ic i t b cidrd cv-

ri th m bjct mr rty-

ttdi bcd bdt ic

rm Nbrk, K, d Ark, d

h b rtd with thm r th r-

rchi th tw-third tt

cry t rqir th ci cv-

.

This process is for the states, not Congress. I th t,

w-mi mmbr Cr hv itrdcd

bi t rv i tht rry r r th tt -

itr r r th cv t rv. I dtd,

th bi wd hv dicttd hw dt r -

ctd, hw my dt ch tt my hv t th

cv, d wht v d thr r th cv-

mt w.

Tht kid i i rbby ct r

vr r. Firt, cri rt t ctr

th cv wd hdic it dmt r

mchim r th states t md th Ct

witht itrrc rm Cr. A, th hitric

rcrd hw tht ch rvii xcd th c

wht th Ct m by “ci” itrtt

cv. Th wr t “c” itrtt cv

thriz Cr y t ct d ctriz th -

ic by bjct mr, c wht bjct

th tw-third thrhd h b rchd, d t th

m d c th cv. Ay rthr rcri-

by Cr xcd th c wr r-

by icidt t th ct wr t “c.”11

A td bv, th Fdr mdd th itrtt

cv itr dimc rcc. A i

dimc m, ch vrity dcid hw t

ct it w d r “cmmi” d hw my

t d. Th rcrd th Fdi-Er itrtt c-

v t tht tt ctd dt (“cmmi-

ir”) i y vr wy:

(1) Ec by h th tt itr,

bjct t ccrrc by th thr, with jit

cmmi y dirc;

D.Selecon of delegates

(“commissioners”)



A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS IV

(2) Ec by jit i bth h th

tt itr;

(3) Di by th xcv;

(4) Sc by ditd cmmi.

Mrvr, wh c dt t th Cdr

Cr (which, tricty ki, w iv bdy

rthr th cv), Rhd Id rvidd r di-

rct c by th .

Fr th 1861 Whit Crc Cv, which

rvd rt “dry r” r mdmt cv-

, mt tt itr ctd thir w cmmi-

ir, bt m thrizd th xcv t it

cmmiir r mit thm bjct t th ct

th tt t.

Ec by iv jit bt h vr dvt.

Firt, it mk r th itr t ct cmmi-

ir, bc thy rv iv t bjct

t iv itrc d rmv. Scd, jit bt

c r r t ddck th c by ch

chmbr rim. Third, bc th ic d

iv itrc wi d th icy bhid th

mdmt, th cmmiir’ r t th cv

i rimriy t rv dri cmmi, ci

r tchic bii d dimc ki. Lwmkr r

iky t kw which idivid th bii.

Ech cmmiir i mwrd t ct by dcmt

cd “cmmii,” id i ch mr th tt

itr dirct.

A tt, t mry th yi tt, r td t

d cmmi t cv r ri md-

mt. Th cv i, Jm Mdi c rt-

d, “bjct t th rm th Ct.” I thr

wrd, it i t “itry” (r “ct”) i

tr. Accrdiy, cv r ri md-

mt h thrity t vit Arc V r y thr

rt th Ct. Accrdi t th r i Arc

V, th cv my t r ch i th r

tht ch tt h “q Sr i th St,”12 nor

my it tr th rc rcdr.13

Prir r d rcc vri itrtt cv

hw tht cv mt hr th trm thir c

d imit thmv t th c th bjct mr

thy r chrd with ddri. Th c th b-

jct mr i t by th c th 34 r mr cc-

ic, d idy Cr hd rrdc

tht c i it c.

Dt t Amric cv ry hv hd

wr t ct thir w cr d dt thir w

r, d thi h b ivry tr itrtt

cv. Th r icd th tdrd d-

bt, diy m cvi d djri, whthr

th rcdi r r crt, d thr mr

itr rcdr. Itrtt cv trdiy

hv dtrmid i ccrdi t “ tt/

vt,” thh cv i r t ch th r

r. Th cv my imit hw my cm-

miir rm ch tt c ccy th r t m.

Lik thr dimc r, cv cmmi-

ir r bjct t itrc rm hm—i thi

c rm th itr r th itr’ di.14

Th di cd b cmmi, th xcv, r -

thr r r bdy. Athh tt ic c-

t ciy rcr wrdi r mdmt, tt

cd itrct it cmmiir t t r t y

mdmt tht did t icd rcr . I

ccrdc with Fdi Er rcc d th cv-

’ r, ch tt hd y it w dt.

Th cv my t t r r mr md-

mt withi th ditd bjct mr r it my

djr witht ri ythi. U trd by

cv r, r rqir y mjrity vt.

Sm hv rd tht rm r rqir tw

third cv vt—r tht Cr my im

ch r—bt thr i thi i w r hitry t -

rt thi rmt.

E. The Convenon.





16

• Oc tht dcii i md, th cv

mt djr.

I r, rc cv-rd md-

mt i th m r criy-rd

mdmt.

I th cv vidy r r mr md-

mt, Arc V requires Cr t ct tw

“Md() Rc” r ch. Cr my dcid

tht th mdmt b bmid t tt cv

ctd r tht r (th md ctd r th 21t

Amdmt, ri Prhibi) r t th tt i-

tr (th md ctd r thr mdmt).

Th bi Cr t ct md hd b

rcb jdiciy, bt it i cmty t Cr

which th tw md it ch. Nithr th yi

tt itr r th cv my dictt which

md Cr ct.

O cr, th bi Cr t ch md

dd th mr qiyi vid “r.”

A r wd t b vid i, r xm, it xcdd

th c th bjct mr dd by th ic-

r i it trd q r i th St r th

Ct’ r rc. Cr wd b

dr bi t ct md r ch “r-

,” r wd it hv th riht t d .

Th Ct d t rqir tht r b

trmid t Cr r t y thr rcr ty;

th r i cmt wh th r th cv-

y it i. Bc Cr mt ch md

rc, hwvr, th cv hd ciy

trmit th r t Cr.

Oc mdmt r rd r th dt dcid

t t r y, th r th cv h

b rvd, d it mt djr.


• Ech tt d cmmi cmmii-

r t th cv, ch by th tt

itr r th tt itr dirct.

• Th cv ct it w cr d

t it w r.

• Ii r i tt/ vt with

dcii md by mjrity tt, bt

th cv my ch bth r.

• Th cv mt w th r th

Ct, icdi th i Arc V. Th

cv ct ch th rc

rcdr.

• Th cmmiir mt rmi withi th

chr t by th ic d (driv-

vy) by th cri c.

• Withi th chr d dri th cv,

ch cmmi i bjct t itrc rm

it hm tt itr r th itr’

di d i bjct t rc w.

• Withi th chr, th cmmiir my

r r mr mdmt, r my

r t .

F. Racaon.



V. The Myth of a Runaway Convention

A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS V

h runaway convenon scenario w cjrd

i th 19th ctry t did tt wmkr

rm byi Cr thrh th tt ic

d cv rc. Th cri bcm m

dri th 1960, wh ibr cvit, itr, d

cdmic rid it t dt ic cmi

r mdmt tht wd hv vrtrd m

Srm Crt dcii. Vri r hv myd

th m tcc t dt bcd bdt mdmt

r vr th yr.15 I th iri hi-

try, m dy conservave r w rmt th

cri w. O c xct bth ibr d cr-

vv t t rmt it i i thr ic-

cmi bi t i trc.

I th “rwy cv” cri, tt itr

mt t imit th cv thrh thir ic-

, bt c th cv mt th cmmii-

r dirrd th ic d thir bqt i-

trc. Itd, hd thir rt, thir

ic tr, d hr, th cmmiir

i rd mdmt tht r ultra vires—tht

i, byd thir thrity.

I th mr xtrm vri th rwy cri,

th cv’ rd mdmt ritt v-

ry, bih th Bi Riht, r thrwi cmty

tr th Amric rm vrmt. T rvt th

tt rm bcki thir r, th cv

ch th mthd ryi t mthd it d

mr ci. Whi th Cr, th Pridt, th

crt, d th miitry ixicby it by d rmit

thi coup d’état t d, th cv im w,

mr thritri, vrmt Amric.

I th mr mdrt vri th rwy cri,

th cv i b t ch th rc r-

c, bt thr-rth th tt vrth ry

mdmt thy did t thriz d d t wt.

O cr, v th mr mdrt vri th r-wy cv cri hw dr rrd r -

ic rity. At th vry t, cmmiir wh wi-

y dirrdd imit thir thrity wd r -

vr rt d rbby cmrmi ty

thir ic tr. Thi my xi why, i th

hitry th hdrd Amric tt d itrtt

cv, y dd hd dt hv ct-

“ At the very least, commissioners

who willfully disregarded limits

on their authority would suer

severe loss of reputation and

probably compromise fatally

their political futures.”

T





18

y td “i r.” Advct th rwy

cri d t dit thi, bt r tht th 1787

Ct Cv dirrdd it itrc.

Urtty r thir i, th widrd cim

tht th 1787 Ct Cv dirrdd it

itrc i bty (r rc dcmt-

i wht cty hd, Adix C). Athr

rcc ic ctr i tht Cr, d t m

xtt th Pridt, r it riv th c-

v, d iky t rmi icv whi it r

wid.

I ddi t th ctrit rcc ic, thr

r rddt rtc it ultra vires pro-

:

(1) Bc cv cmmiir r bjct t

tt iv itrc, itr c crrct

r rc y m t xcd thir wr.

(2) I, vrth, itr id t d thi AND

th cv rrtd t dt ultra vires

mdmt, it wd t b cty

vid “r.” Hc Cr wd t b

bitd t ct “Md Rc”—d,

idd, wd hv riht t d .

(3) I tt itr id t t cmmiir

rm c byd thir wr, AND i th c-

v rrtd ultra vires mdmt, AND i

Cr vrth ctd md rc-

, th crt cd dcr Cr’ dcii

vid.

(4) I th tt itr did t t thir cmmi-

ir rm c byd thir wr, AND i

th cv rrtd ultra vires mdmt,

AND i Cr ctd md rc,

AND i th crt id t dcr Cr’ dci-

i vid, th th tt cd r t ry it.

(5) I th iky vt tht th tt iitd

ryi r thy (1) did t y r, d

(2) w id ctrry t thir itrc, th

th crt—r, idd, y vrmt cy—

cd trt th “mdmt” vid.

I m, thr r r mr ic d ctrit

rwy cv th rwy Cr.

“There are far morepolitical and legal

constraints on a runaway convention than on arunaway Congress.”



A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS VI

h ct mdmt rc c b

my. Idd, cciy r tht

r mr xi mdmt vr wr rvd

rry. Nth, wmkr myi th tt

ic d cv rc mt try t w

th r cy ib. Thr r t my i-

ci, bbyi r, d jd wii t iz r-

cdr mitk t bck mdmt thy d’t ik.

Promote the right amendments.

Mt hv r mr c dr t thir

hrt tht thy wd v t wri it th

Ct. Bt th tt ic d cv

rc i c r r, icv, r idiy-

crc c. Ech t mdmt hd cmy

with t t r critri:

(1) Lik mt mdmt rdy dtd, ithd mv Amric bck twrd Fdi

rici.

(2) It hd rmi bt, rthr th mry

ymbic r mri, ct bic icy.

(3) It hd b widy r.

(4) It hd b bjct tht mt tt wmkr,

y ic rty, c drtd d r-

cit.

Th mt cc ic cmi vr—r

dirct c U.S. Str—mt th crit-

ri. Th c w widy r d w drtd

by tt wmkr bc, yr r yr, iv

c Str hd trd iv ddck,

crr, d bmri tt c by dr

i. Dirct c dvct rrtd th cm-

i cry t rtr Fdi rici d

rdictd bt imrvmt i th qity v-

rmt.

A thi wri, bcd bdt mdmt rb-

by mt r critri; mdmt t bih th

icm tx rbby d t.

Don’t work alone.

Sm Amric’ mt cc rrm cmi

wr bd c cr m tt. Fr x-

m, th Amric Rv w crditd rtthrh itrtt “cmmi crrdc.”

Cr rd dirct c Str y -

tr 31 th th-48 tt ( hy tw-third) hd

bmid cy imir ic r cv.

I th r itc, th itr vr tt

crditd th rt by rc tdi -

iv cmmi—tht i, dd cmmd ctr

VI. Practical Recommendations for the State Application and Convention Process

Hr r m rcc r t w:

T





20

tht rrd cmm rm d itd th cmm

rt.

Ftr ic cmi wi ccd y i tt

itr wrk tthr. Thy hd tbih td-

i “cmmi crrdc” t rthr th

c. Ech yi itr hd dit

ctct r r ci cmmic t d rm

thr tt. Ech yi itr hd y

thr tt itr it c. Aic hd

w crti tdrd rm. Exm ch rm

r i Adix A.

A ic hd b t t my rciit

ib, ciy ( cr) Cr. A th cm-

i bid, tt itr hd cmmict with

ch thr ch i hw thy wi ch thir

cmmiir, wht th cv r wi b, d

th iz tt d. Th xch irm-

wi b tt t ddr dirc i dvc

th mdmt cv, miti mmtm

d ctr vr th rc, d rtct it rm c-

ri itrrc.

Don’t make applicaons too general.

A cv r ri mdmt i bicy

rbm vi tk rc, d it rry mk t

t tk rc t d y rbm i ythi thy

ch. Mrvr, w wmkr wt cv

mry r th k cv r bc thy thik

th Ct d cmt vrh. Thrr,

ic hd ciy th bjct th rd

cv. I th itr wih t ddr vr

bjct, th bjct hd b i rt ic-

. I tht wy, th dt ic wi t

cmrmi thr.

Don’t make applicaons too specic; let

the convenon do its work.

Oc tk rc i td th rbm t ddr, it

hd b wd t d it jb. I thr wrd, thh

th tk i rt, th rci ct b. Bth

Fdi Er rcc d mdr crt dcii t

tht it i ct r m mbi wrki

dr Arc V (ch th itr) t try t dictt

t thr (ch th cv). Th crt

my ividt y ic tht imit th cv

t r dw vt cic wrdi.16

Thr r m rcc r r vidi t

mch cicity. Th mr cic ic i, th

mr dict it i t rr th brd ci c-

ry t idc 34 tt t rv it. Frthr, th mr

cic it i, th mr iky it wi dvit h rm

thr ic t iv Cr r r r-

i t rt it with thr ic. Fiy, th

cv rbby wi d br jb dri

mdmt th dird tt wmkr. Ci

it wi xricd r rm tt, th

cv my vry w cr mr d—

d mr icy tb—th y cid i th

ic.

Cidr bcd bdt ic xm.

A ic cd k t dictt dtid trm t th

cv (di c, r r tx icr, -

i r rri dti) r it cd c imy r “

bcd bdt mdmt with y rrit imi-

t rv d/r xditr.” I th rmr

rt i wd, t y d it bcm dict t

rr cit ic rt r th ic, bt

Cr r th crt my trt it ivid. I th r

rt i wd, ithr Cr r th crt hv

y ch xc, bt th cv my icd th

dird trm i y mdmt it r.

Don’t make applicaons condional.

Sm ic r cdi rir vt (..,

cri ir t rrt imir mdmt).

Th r rbby vid, bt i th bc crt

dcii it, w ct b crti. Aic

tht cdi t try t crc thr bdi i th

Arc V rc r mr ry ivid. Th, th -

ic hd t rt tht it i vid th c-

v dt rcr wrdi r rcr r, r

Cr dt rcr md rc.



A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS VI

A ic t tht it i vid r rcr

dt r i rcr (-crciv) vt h ccrrd

i rbby cctb y. Hwvr, it wd b bt-

tr t v t cdi ry. Th itr c

rcid th ic tr, i cry.

Move fast .

Amric i i ri trb; d’t b idtrckd by

rmim r by h tht Cr my r

mdmt imi it w wr. Hitry hw thi

i iky.

Odr ic hd b rwd rm m t m.

Sm hv rd tht ic tmc-

y xir r “rw t” with th m. Thr

i i ct bi r thi rmt, bt m

i Cr hv dvcd it t wk th tt i-

c d cv rc. I ib, r -

ic cmi hd b d r cm i

thr t r yr.

Keep the applicaon as simple as possible.

A rviy td, ic hd t b vry

cic: Stt th rbm d t th cv d it

jb. D t try t dictt rcr wrdi r cic

rch t th rbm.

A, d’t t rcmmd r ttmt -

drtdi i yr itr’ ic. I y wih

t i -bidi rcmmd t thr i-

tr, Cr, r th cv, th d i -

rt r.

T b r, rcmmd r ttmt dr-

tdi i ic d t criy vid it.

I ct, vr th tt cv ryi th

Ct icdd rcmmd d dcr

witht c th vidity thir rc. Bt rc-

mmd d imir wrdi r t wy cry

drd, d t my ch thm with th

cim tht thy ry r trm r cdi tht ivi-

dt th ic r rvt it rm bi rtd

with thr ic twrd th tw-third thrhd.

Thrr, rcmmd, dcr, d tt-

mt drtdi wy hd b dtd i

r rt rm th ic. Adix A

rvid rm r r tht r.

Retain state control over the convenon.

Th tt ic d cv rc w d-

id cicy wy r tt itr t by-

Cr. Urtty, m t mmbr

Cr hv xrd wii t itrr with r

ctr th rc. Fr th k th Ct, thi

mt t b wd t h.

Stt itr yi r cv mt d

cr m t Cr tht thi rcdr i withi

th ctr th tt. Cr’ bi r t

ct th ic, c th cv th tt’

bh, d ch md rc. Cr h

thrity t d th cv’ c, it r,

r th c it cmmiir. Th r th r-

rv th tt itr d th cv

cmmiir rib t th tt itr.

The state legislature should choose its own

commissioners.

Th Fdi Er rcrd, mtd by bqt

rcc, t tht wh itrtt cv i

cd, ch tt dcid, dr it w w, hw my

rrtv wi mk it d r “cmmit-

t,” d hw thy r ctd.

Athh c cd b dtd t r vt

r t th xcv, i th c cv r r-

i mdmt ch d mk i .

Sic th icy d r th cv wi b xd

by th ic d by bqt iv itrc-

t th cmmiir, rvic i th cv

rqir mr i th wy ki d

dri biity th r ic r i

th i. Idy, cmmiir wi b d

d ttd dr qd rbity.





22

Athr r r iv c i tht th cm-

miir wi b bjct t tt iv itrc

d rc.

I m tt thr wi b rr r r c-

. I itr d t r r c, it

mt criy tht cmmiir’ ir t w

iv itrc cd d t hi r hr rmv.

Thi i rqird t rv th cr r th tt

ic d cv rc: T b tt -

itr t dvc mdmt trtd t rbm

th itr hv idd. U tt i-

tr c ctr it w cmmi t th cv,

tht cr r i dtd.

Sm hv td tht tt dt ttt r-

vidi tht cmmiir wh xcd th c

th cv r dirrd iv itrc r

dmd immdity rcd. It i crti whthr

ch w wd b rcb it tt i-

tr c withi Arc V. Hwvr, ch w c

rv dc c, d my ct imicit

iv r. 17

Respond to the “minority rule” argument.

I hitry i y id, t wi cim th tt

ic d cv rc i ic r “mi-

rity r” bc, i thry, tt with mirity

th Amric cd trir cv.Advct hd rd by i t tht thi i im-

rbb rcc mr bc ic ri

wi c m rr tt th m id mr

tt. A hviy td tt ik Tx i mch mr

icy ki t ry td tt ik Sth

Dkt th t thr hviy td tt ik

Mch. Frthr, th ic t i y

ii t i thr-t rc. Oc th cv

mt, mjrity tt d wi hv t -

rv y mdmt, d i th r bicity th

cmmiir r iky t r mr mt

Amric d ditt. Ar th cv i

th r, tht r wi hv t b rd by

38 tt—icdi, i rbbiity, m tt tht

id t y. Th ryi tt wi mt crtiy

rrt rmjrity th Amric .



2

A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS VII

h tt ic d cv rc w

t irtd i th Ct mry t icr

th th th dcmt. It w imrtt cm-

t—rh th mt imrtt cmt—i th

dr bc btw tt d ctr vrmt.

It w, i Mdi’ trm, th mt ct

wy r crbi biv r t ctr dr v-

rmt. I mr mdr trm, it i th t

th iiv rc t th tt v: Jt th ii-

v b th t mk rrm th tt -

itr r t drtk, th tt ic d

cv rc b th tt itr t -

ctt rrm Cr r t r.

I w cd ddr r mr th di Fdr

tdy, w miht t thm wht h hd t

Amric drim—tht th tt r icriy

mr dmiitrv bdivii r th cvic

Whit, D.C. Ar w rtd th it,

th Fdr dbt wd k, “W, hv y

vr cd cv th tt dr Arc V?”

Ad wh w dmid w vr hd, thy miht w

rd, “I hrt, y rd t th vry t

w v y t vid thi it. Th d tt

Amric drim i cry yr w t.”

Th, th ribiity r rcimi ct v-

rmt i vry mch r.

VII. Conclusion.

T




Appendix A: Annotated Forms

Thi Adix r rm r tt iv r r th

tt ic d cv rc. Am th rm r

ic r cv, rt r r iv

dcr d rcmmd, d cmmiir crd.

Th rm r t itdd t b div d crtiy d trrt dvic. Thy r did t rv tr

it r iv drr miir with th w d i

ch tt.

24 A M E R I C A N L E G I S L A T I V E E X C H A N G E C O U N C I L




2

Sample Form:

The Application in General

(With a “Clean” Balanced Budget Amendment to Illustrate)

A ic hd b kt im ib. Extr my d t ci, ividity, r cri

r t rt th ic with th rm thr tt. I tt itr wih t mk rcmmd

r i dcr r ttmt drtdi, th itm hd r y i ccmyi r.

Crdi d y itrc t cmmiir hd b cd i rt r.

Th tr it r th wi rm w tw rm cmmy myd by tt itr dri thir

hihy cc ic cmi r dirct c U.S. Str.18 Th BBA wrdi i imir t tht d

i m crrty ttdi tt’ BBA ic rm th t 1970 d ry 1980. Addi mtri h

b ddd. Th i italics i .

Aic dr Arc V th U.S. Ct

Fr Cv t Pr Bcd Bdt Amdmt

B it rvd by th itr th Stt ______:

Sc 1. Th itr th Stt ______ hrby i t Cr, dr th rvii Arc V

th Ct th Uitd Stt, r th ci cv th tt imitd t ri mdmt

t th Ct th Uitd Stt rqiri tht i th bc mrcy th tt Fdr

ty r y c yr my t xcd th tt mtd Fdr rv r tht c yr.

Sc 2. Th crtry tt i hrby dirctd t trmit ci thi ic t th Pridt d

Scrtry th St d t th Skr d Crk th H Rrtv th Cr, d ci t

th mmbr th id St d H Rrtv rm thi Stt; t trmit ci hr t th

ridi cr ch th iv h i th vr Stt, rq thir cr.

Sc 3. Thi ic i t b cidrd cvri th m bjct mr th rty-ttdi

bcd bdt ic rm thr tt, icdi bt t imitd t rviy-dtd ic rm

______________ d ______________; d thi ic h b rtd with m r th r

ii th tw-third tt cry t rqir th ci cv, bt h t b rtd with

y ic y thr bjct.

Sc 4. Thi ic ctt ci ic i ccrdc with Arc V th Ct

th Uitd Stt th itr t t tw-third th vr tt hv md ic th m

bjct. It supersedes all previous applicaons by this legislature on the same subject.

***





26

Notes t C BBA Frm:

• Obrv hw im thi ic i. Fr thi, it d t icd thy rmb (“whr”

c), which miht b ctrd cr imit r qic th ic.

• Frthr, thh th ic rvid tht th cv i t b imitd t th bjct bcd

bdt mdmt, it d t rqir th cv t dt, r rjct, rcr wrdi. I it did, it miht

b vid.19

• Thi ic vid i thr cic trm. Ir ddi rqirmt—ch tw-

third rqirmt r Cr t ri tx—my cricy rdc rt m wmkr d th bic.

• Addi ddi trm rdc th chc btii 34 mtchi ic, thrby ri C-

r r t t c cv. Thi rm, th thr hd, i did t b rtd iy with

vr rvy im ic dtd i th t 1970 d ry 1980.

• Thi ic rr t th cv “cv th tt.” Thi w cmm wy rrri t

cv r ri mdmt dri th Fdi Er d r my yr r. Th hr cri

tht th cv i federal m d rm th vr tt rthr th “” cv-

c.

• Th r d t hv cdi t tht it i vid i th cv i cd r y thr bjct.

Sch cdi my cmrmi th ity th ic. Mrvr, ic rbby c t xit

(d thrr r t trmib) c th cv i cd. A imit bjct mr r i Sc-

1 d c b rcd, i cry, thrh itrc t cmmiir, by bic ii, d by

c.

• Sc 4 cri th iv itt tht th ic h t rw “t” with th m. O

cr, th ic wy c b rcidd.

• Th italicized wrdi i r wmkr diri t “cr th dck” rvi BBA ic-

rm thir tt.




2

• Thi c r brdr cv d th th “c” BBA rm. Th “tthr with y rtd

d rrit c rtrit” b th cv t cidr imit tx, di, d th ik.

• W d t rcmmd tht th ic cit cic c dr di hr th cmy.

Thi i bc:

• It ri th dd tht dirt tt ic wi vry i wrdi d thrr t b rtd

twrd th rqird 34.

• I th rct xditr imit i hih wht th dr vrmt h t dri y yr i

rct dcd (.., 18 rct r mr GDP), crt my rd th mdmt “ctizi” dr di rrm i rc wh th Cr w t di tht rct GDP.

I thr wrd, ch mdmt miht rt tr ch t th vidity rrm thrwi

tid dr thrity.

Sample Form:

BBA with Option for Further Fiscal Restraint

I th itr wih t dd ddi trm t bic BBA, th itr hd dcrib th trm i

r wrd. I thi xm, Sc 2, 3, d 4 rmi th m, bt Sc 1 i r-wri t rd w:

Aic dr Arc V th U.S. Ct Fr Cv t Pr Bcd Bdt Amdmt d Frthr Fic Rtrit

Sc 1. Th itr th Stt ______ hrby i t Cr, dr th rvii Arc V

th Ct th Uitd Stt, r th ci cv th tt imitd t ri mdmt

t th Ct th Uitd Stt rqiri tht i th bc mrcy th tt Fdr

ty r y c yr my t xcd th tt mtd Fdr rv r tht c yr, tthr with

y rtd d rrit c rtrit.

***

Notes t BBA with O r Frthr Fic Rtrit:





28

Sample Form:

Resolution of Declarations, Statements of

Understanding, and Recommendations

Smm itr bmi Arc V ic dcid t irt dcr r drtdi hw thy

xct th tt ic d cv rc t wrk. Fr xm, th ic miht rt tht th

yi itr xct th cv t y th r “ tt/ vt.” Simiry, th itr miht

icd i th ic rcmmd rtii t th cv, t th th mdmt, r t

th md rc.

Fr r dicd rir, itr diri t i rcmmd r dcr hd d i

r separate rm th ic.

Fwi i m dcrtry d rcmmdtry r:

Dcrtry d Rcmmdtry R t Accmy Aic

r Cv t Pr Bcd Bdt Amdmt

Whereas, th itr th Stt ____ h id t Cr dr Arc V th Uitd Stt

Ct r cv t r mdmt t th Ct rqiri bcd bdt;

Whereas, cv r ri mdmt h t rviy b hd;

Whereas, i th itrt criyi crti it i dirb r th itr t dcr it drtdi

d xct r th cv rc;

Whereas, i th cv dcid t r bcd bdt mdmt, th th cv wi hv th

tk dri m; d

Whereas, it i dirb r th itr t i rcmmd t th ctt y ch rd

mdmt,

Be it resolved by the legislature of the State of _____________:

Sc 1. Th itr hrby dcr it drtdi tht:

() cv r ri mdmt i dvic icdd i th Ct t b th

tt itr t dvc twrd rc mdmt witht th btv ivv-

mt Cr;(b) th cv i thri rrtv itd rt t tt w r rcc,

with ii r r vt r tt;

(c) th cv’ dt r cmmiir cmmiid by th tt itr tht d

thm d r bjct t itrc thrrm;

(d) th c th cv d y r it i r imitd by th c th i-

c id by th tt yi r th cv; d



2

A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS [ A ]

() cmmiir rm th Stt ___ wi b rcd rm y cv tht rrt t

xcd th c dd i th ic.

Sc 2. Th itr hrby rcmmd tht:

() Ech tt d t mr th v cmmiir t th cv;

(b) Th cv rti th r r “ tt/ vt” thrht it rcdi;

(c) Ay rd mdmt icd rvii w:

(i) rqiri tht tt ty t xcd tt mtd rcit r y c yr;

(ii) rqiri th c yr tt ty imit;

(iii) rvidi tht, r r thr th wr r thr miitry cict, th imit thi

mdmt my b wivd by w r y c yr i rvd by t t tw-

third bth h Cr;

(iv) wi r th rvii th mdmt t tk ct withi cid m

rid;

(v) rvidi r th wivr th rvii th mdmt r y c yr i

which dcr wr i i ct r th Uitd Stt i d i miitry c-

ict tht c immit r ri miitry thrt t crity;

(vi) wi r cri rcmt; d

(vii) rv th crt rm rdri Cr t ri y tx r mthd

bci th bdt.

Sc 3. Thi dcrtry d rcmmdtry r i t rt th ic, d h t b

dmd ch.

Sc 4. Th crtry tt i hrby dirctd t ccmy trmii th rid ic r

cv with ci thi dcrtry d rcmmdtry r w.

* * *

• Th “Whr” c rm rmb rth th r r th ic. Lthy rmb r

bt kt t th ic.

• Sc 1 t rth th itr’ r drtdi th tr th cv.

• Sc 2 icd itm irrit t b mdtd i ic, bt rcmmd r th cv-

t cidr.

• Itm (c) (i) - (vi) i Sc 2 r tk rm rd ic kw Frid St Ccrrt R-

N. 4 (2011), dtd by th Frid St bt t by th H. Tht r mtd t icd

th itm mdt; i thi rm, hwvr, thy r rttd rcmmd. Itm (vii) i thr

-rcmmdd rvii.

Notes t Dcrtry d Rcmmdtry R:





30

Sample Form: Resolution Electing Commissioners

(with “Trap Door”)

A td rir, th md cmmiir c i dtrmid by th tt itr, with th bt trv

rbby c by jit bt th itr it. Sm wmkr hv td tht wy t rr

th kc cv i r yi tt t c i ccmyi r wh it

cmmiir wi b. Hc th wi rm:

R Ec Cmmiir t Cv

r Pri Bcd Bdt Amdmt

Whereas, th itr th Stt ____ h id t Cr dr Arc V th Uitd Stt

Ct r cv t r mdmt t th Ct rqiri bcd bdt; d

Whr, th itr h dcidd t ct it cmmiir t th cv, i ch i hd:

Be it resolved by jit i th St d th H Rrtv th Stt _____,

Tht (cmmiir 1), (cmmiir 2), (cmmiir 3), (cmmiir 4), d (cmmiir 5) r

hrby ctd cmmiir rm thi tt t ch cv, with wr t cr with cmmiir

rm thr tt th d xciv bjct whthr th cv h r bcd

bdt mdmt t th Uitd Stt Ct d, i , wht th trm ch mdmt h

b; d rthr, by th dcii mjrity th cmmiir rm thi tt, t ct thi tt’ vt

i ch cv.

B it rthr rvd tht, xtdd by th itr th Stt ____, v i jit i

th St d H Rrtv, th thrity ch cmmiir h xir t th rir

(1) Dcmbr 31, 2016 r (2) y ddi t th cv d r cv r cidr

t mdmt r thr ct ch thr th bcd bdt mdmt t th

Uitd Stt Ct.

* * *

• N itr c bid tr itr i thi wy; thrr thi r c b rcidd tr.

• Th c i thi r i by jit vt bth h.

• Th r imit th th th cmmiir’ trm.

• Th r icd “tr dr” by which di c i th cv byd th ci-

d r.

Notes t c--cmmiir rm:



A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS [B]

Amendments convenon - cmm yym r

convenon for proposing amendments, which i th

ci m iv t th thri by th Ct.

Applicaon - th iv r whrby tt

itr t Cr tht i it rciv ic

th m bjct rm tw-third th tt i-

tr (34 50), Cr mt c cv r

ri mdmt th bjct.

Arcle V convenon - cmm yym r conven-

on for proposing amendments, which i th ci

m th Ct iv t tht thri.

Commissioner - th rm t dt t c-

v r ri mdmt, md rm hi

r hr mwri cmmii.

Commiee - tt’ d t cv r r-

i mdmt.

Constuonal convenon - cv chrd with

wri ry w Ct; kid plenipo-

tenary cv.

Convenon - riiy jt yym r “m.”

A d by th Fdr d i th Ct it,

convenon m mby tht ich-hit r

itr i rrmi ditd tk.

Convenon for proposing amendments - cv

rrtv th tt itr m t r-

r mr mdmt r mr bjct

cid i th tt iv ic d (driv-

vy) i th cri c. A cv r r-

i mdmt i imitd cv rvi ad

hoc btt r Cr ri mdmt.

Interstate convenon - ric trm rrri t y

cv dt rr thr r mr

tt r tt itr. Thr wr mr itr-

tt cv hd btw 1776 d 1787, which

i tr wr rcdd by vr itr-ci cv-

.

Plenipotenary convenon - A Fdi Er trm br-

rwd rm itr dimc rcc. It rr t

cv whr th cmmiir hv imitd

r ry imitd wr t rrt thir rc-

v vri. Th Firt Ct Cr w

itry cv. A t mt th cmmi-

ir, th 1787 Ct Cv w c t

itry. Mt itrtt cv, hwvr,

hv b mr rtrictd.

Propose - I Arc V th Ct, propose c

m ithr (1) th wr Cr r cv-

r ri mdmt t vidy tdr -

td mdmt t th tt r rc r rjc-

, r (2) th wr Cr t dit whthr

rd mdmt wi b t t th tt i-

tr r t tt cv r rc.

Rafy, racaon - I Arc V th Ct, ra -

caon rr t th rc by which tt itr

r tt cv cvrt rd mdmt

it y cv rt th Ct. Arv

by thr-rth th tt (38 50) i cry r

rc.

Appendix B:

Denitions of Terms




32 A M E R I C A N L E G I S L A T I V E E X C H A N G E C O U N C I L

Appendix C:

Answers to Criticisms

A tcc myd by rmtr th “rwy cv

cri”20 i t ch wmkr with it dy

wrb q.21 Svr it r d d thy vry

mwht, bt r t b bd q bihd

vr thr dcd by Prr Lwrc Trib Hrvrd

Lw Sch, ibr t cv r ri

mdmt.22

Athh it i cimd th q r wrb, mt d, i

ct, hv d wr. Bc tt wmkr my ctr

thm whi cidri Arc V ic, th q,

mtd by w thr, r itd i thi dix. Thy r

rizd by tic, thh th q c b rtd i y

rdr. Th q r rrdcd vrbm, tthr with thir

mm-dd hri d ct. A wr immdity

w ch q.



3

A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS [C ]

Quesons Pertaining to Applicaons

Q1. How is the validity of applicaons from the states

to be determined?

A. Iiy by Cr, thh cri dcii

r bjct t jdici rviw.

Q2. How specic must the state legislatures be in ask-

ing for an amendment?

A. Th itr my y ithr r rtrictd

cv r dvtd t rcr bjct mr.

Thr i ircd r t cicity, xct tht th

mr itr tri t dictt th cic

th mdmt ( d t th r tic), th

mr it dr th ic’ vidity.

Q3. Must all the applicaons be in idencal language?

A. N. It i h i thy idy th m rbm()

r bjct(). Hwvr, rdc t tht tt -

itr crdit with thr.

Q4. Within what me period must the required num-

ber of applicaons be received?

A. Ad th 27th mdmt—rd vr 200

yr rir—h cvicd mt brvr tht thr i

m rid. Bc, hwvr, m cim tht

ic c “t,” rdc t tht cm-

i b cmtd withi w yr. Th ic

cmi r dirct c tr tk 14 yr.

Quesons Pertaining to Congress

Q5. Can Congress refuse to call a convenon on de-

mand of two-thirds of the states, and if it does, can it

be compelled to act by the courts?

A. Nry chr hv ccdd tht Cr my

t r. Srm Crt rcdt try t

tht th crt c cm it t ct.

Q6. Would Congress decide to submit Con Con [sic ]

amendments for racaon to the state legislatures or

to a state constuonal convenon as permied under

Arcle V of the constuon?

A. Arc V ci tht th q i t Cr—

i tr y mdmt, whthr rd by

Cr r by cv. Icidty, th cv-

tht r mdmt i cd “tt ry-

i cv,” t “tt ct cv.”

Quesons Pertaining to Delegates and Delegate

Selecon

Q7. Who are the delegates, and how are they to

be chosen? (Othr vri thi r (1) How would

Delegates be selected or elected to a Constuonal [sic]

Convenon? d (2) What authority would be respon-

sible for elecng the Delegates to the convenon? )

A. Dt (mr rry cd “cmmiir”) r

rrtv thir rcv tt itr d

r ch th tt itr dirct.

Q8. What authority would be responsible for deter-

mining the number of delegates from each state?

A. Thi d rtd q r dtrmid i ch

tt by tht tt’ itr—jt i tr r d-

t t thr cv, ch tt cv

r ryi mdmt.

Q9. Would delegates be selected based on popula-

on, number of registered voters, or along party lines?

A. S th wr t Q #8.

Q10. Would delegates be selected based on race, eth-

nicity or gender?

A. Th Eq Prtc C th Frtth

Amdmt, th D Prc C th Fih

Amdmt, d th Srm Crt c itrr

thm rbid c th rd.

Quesons Pertaining to Convenon Organizaon

and Procedure

Q11. Can the convenon act by a simple major-

ity vote, or would a two-thirds majority be required,





34

as in Congress, for proposing an amendment? (Othr

vri r (1) Would proposed amendments require

a two-thirds majority vote for passage? d (2) How

would the number of votes required to pass [or propose]

a Constuonal Amendment be determined? )

A. Th cv ct by im mjrity th rr-

td tt. Th cv my, by im mjrity

th rrtd tt, tr tht v r.

Q12. How is a convenon to be nanced, and where

does it meet? (Rtd vri r (1) What author-

ity would be responsible for selecng the venue for the

Convenon?, d (2) Where would the Convenon be

held?, d (3) Who will fund this Convenon? )

A. A cv r ri mdmt i ccv

tt “cmmi,” ch md tt cmmi-

ir. It thrr i cd by th tt. Cr,

i th cv c, ci th ii m c,

bt th cv my tr tht m c.

Q13. May the convenon propose more than one

amendment?

A. Y—bt y i thy r withi th d th

cv, rcribd by th yi tt.

Q14. Is there a me limit on the proceedings, or can

the convenon act as a connuing body?

A. Thr i xd m imit—th cv c mt

it dcid whthr t r mdmt d

which t r. Bt cv i, by di-

, t ci bdy. It h thrity byd

dcidi whthr t r mdmt withi th

bjct mr rcribd i th ic. Oc tht

i rrmd, it mt djr. Addiy, tt my

rc d/r rc thir cmmiir t y m.

Q15. What authority would be responsible for or-

ganizing the convenon, such as commiee selecon,

commiee chairs and members, etc.? (A rtd q-

i, How would the Chair of the Convenon be select -

ed or elected? )

A. Oriz dti ch th r xd i r d-

td by th cv it, i ccrdc with ry

ivr Amric cv rcdr. Cv

ivry ct thir w rmt cr.

Q16. How would the number of delegates serving on

any commiee be selected and limited?

A. S wr t Q 15.

Q17. What authority will establish the Rules of the

Convenon, such as seng a quorum, how to proceed

if a state wishes to withdraw its delegaon, etc.?

A. S wr t Q 15.

Q18. Would non-Delegates be permied inside the

convenon hall? (A rtd vri i, Will demonstra-

tors be allowed and/or controlled outside the convenon

hall? )

A. Iid th cv h, cv r ctr.

Th tid virmt i bjct t th m r

vri th c tid y bic bdy, cv-

, r itr.

Q19. What would happen if the Con Con [sic ] decided

to write its own rules so that two-thirds of the states

need not be present to get amendments passed?

A. Nthi rqir th cv t w tw-third

d r qrm r r ri mdmt.

Ad d qrm r r t by ch cv

i ccrdc with ivr rcc. A r th raca-

on rcdr: Accrdi t bth th ct txt

d th U.S. Srm Crt, th cv rciv

it wr rm th Ct. S it ct tr th

r i th Ct tht ciy th rc r-

cdr. S th rcdi wr.

Q20. Could a state delegaon be recalled by its legis-

lature and its call for a convenon be rescinded during

the convenon?

A. Th itr my rc it cmmiir. Th rt

th q iccrty m th tt “c”

th cv; cty, th tt y d Cr

c. It i iky tt cd withdrw it ic

r tw third th tt hv ctd it. Hwvr,

i tt dir with th mdmt tht i

crd dri th cv, it c itrct it cmmi-

ir t it, d c vt it it dri th

rc rc.



3

A HANDBOOK FOR STATE LAWMAKERS [C]

A Queson Pertaining to the Courts

Q21. Can controversies between Congress and the

convenon over its powers be decided by the courts?

A. Ctrvri vr th c th cv’

wr my b dcidd by th crt. Hwvr, th

tt, t Cr, x th c ch wr. Th

mt iky r ctrvry btw Cr d

th cv wd b i th cv t

mdmt tht Cr biv i tid th c-

v’ d dd i th tt ic.

I ( i rr) Cr th rd t rcrib

“Md Rc” r th td mdmt,

th crt cd rv th dit.

Quesons Based on Historical Claims Made About

James Madison and the 1787 Convenon

Q22. Didn’t James Madison express uncertainty

about the composion of an Arcle V convenon, and

wasn’t he “horried” at the prospect of one?

A. Qit th ctrry. Mdi tr rmtd th c-

v id rb wy t rv ct-

dit. It i tr tht dri th Ct

Cv dbt h iiy xrd crtity

t hw mdmt cv wr t b c-

ttd. Bt h mt hv b d with th wr

h rcivd, ic h drd hi bjc. It i

tr tht h w “hrrid” by 1789 Nw Yrk r

r imitd cv t rwrit th r c-

t with over 30 amendments. Wh wd’t b?

Hwvr, Mdi rtdy rtd tht hi bjc-

w dirctd y t tht rcr r t tht

rcr m.

Q23. Isn’t it true that the 1787 Constuonal

Convenon was a “runaway”—that Congress convened

it under the Arcles of Confederaon only to propose

amendments to the Arcles, but it ended up draing an

enrely new Constuon?

A. Th trth i qit t th ctrry: Mt cmmii-

r hd thrity t rcmmd w Ct,

xid i th rc citd i thi dt.23





36

brvd i Prt I (Itrdc), mt wri

th tt ic d cv rc

h b ry-rrchd, d-driv, r bth.

Hwvr, t vrythi bihd th bjct h

b bid r hw.

Sri chrhi th tic b i 1951 with

xtrrdiry Ph.D. thi wri by th t Wiim

R P, th ic cic rdt tdt

t th Uivrity Nrth Cri. Th P tdy -

rd rm th thr’ ck r hitric trii

(P w ic cic rdt tdt, t

hitric r chr), bt it rtd xct

d thrh mmry ic d hitry t

tht m.24

Mr rct chrhi (dd wrk tht mk

ri mt t mrh th hitric d vi-

dc) chricy it tw r. Th rt

r tdi w bihd dri th 1970 d

1980. It icdd rrch rrt rm th Amric

Br Aci; thy ii cmd by

Jh M. Hrm t th Oc L C t th

U.S. Drtmt Jc; d R C’ bk,Constuonal Brinksmanship, bihd by Oxrd

Uivrity Pr.25 Athh th di th td-

i dird i dti, thy rd m imrtt

cci—icdi th cci tht tt i-

v ic cd imit th c th cv.

Appendix D:

Where Does This Handbook Get Its Information?

Th cd r tdi icd vr bihd

rm 2011 t 2013 by th thr thi Hdbk,

rrd ct w rr d ct

hitri. Th cm thr-rt r iiy

wri r th Gdwtr Itt d dtd r th

Iddc Itt; -th rc bihd by

Frid Lw Rviw d T Lw Rviw, d hrt-

r wrk r bk chtr d r th Hrvrd Jr

Lw d Pbic Picy. Thi rrch tk it cct

(1) mr rct crt dcii, (2) rmry td

rcrd rm th Ct’ rc dbt, (3)

th r-dicvrd jr mr 18th ctry d-

r cv, (4) th jr d thr wri r-

tii t th Whit Crc Cv, d

(5) thr rmry-ctd irm.

A bi i thi r r i rc by Prr

Mich Rrt tht xmi y th Fdi Er

rcrd.

Thi cd r tdi ry crrbrt th

cci th d rm th 1970 d 1980,

bt thy mk m crrc t rir wrk. Th

ccmyi dt t th rdr whr t btith tdi.26

A



3


(Endnotes)1 Th Frtth Amdmt xtdd crti dr rt t ciz; th Fith Amdmt rtctd th riht t

vt, dit “rc, cr, r rvi cdi rvitd;” d th Twty-Frth Amdmt imitd th tx ytm

mm d t r v by miri.

2 ALEC h rcmmdd, m thr, (1) r BBA ic (2011), (2) th Vt Tx Amdmt (2010), (3) th

N Dbt Ri Amdmt (2011) (which rqir rv by mjrity th tt itr br th dr vr-mt c dr it dbt), (4) th R Amdmt (2011) (rmi tw-third tt itr t ividt dr

w d r), (5) A Acctbiity i Gvrmt Amdmt (1996) (imi dr mdt tt), (6) Gvr-

mt th P Amdmt (1996) (imir t th R Amdmt, bt with v-yr r imit), d (7) Stt’

Iiv Amdmt (1996) (rmi thr qrtr th tt t r mdmt witht cv, bjct t

cri vt). T md i y th bi, ctct Jth Wiim t 202-466-3800 r [email protected].

3 Fr rvy 18th ctry cv, icdi th r tht vrd thm, Rbrt G. Nt, Founding-Era Convenons

and the Meaning of the Constuon’s “Convenon for Proposing Amendments,” 65 Fla. L. Rev. 615 (2013).

4 Th Fdi-Er vidc r diihi Arc V cv rm “ct cv” i vrwhmi. See Rb-

rt G. Nt, Amending the Constuon by Convenon: A More Complete View of the Founders’ Plan (Iddc Itt,

2010) (dtd d mdd vri rir r bihd by th Gdwtr Itt), vib t h://ct.i2i.r//2010/12/IP_7_2010_.d.

5 U.S. Ct., Art. V.

6 Th crt, icdi th Srm Crt, hv rmd thi rtdy.

Nt tht Arc V rt iht dict mrtd wr, r wr t th proposal t d r t th racaon t. At

th r t, th Ct (1) rt t tw-third ch h Cr thrity t r mdmt; (2) rt

t tw-third th tt itr wr t rqir Cr t c cv t r mdmt; (3) th mwr

(d rqir) Cr t c tht cv; d (4) thriz tht cv t r mdmt.

At th rc t, (1) th Ct thriz Cr t ct whthr rc h b by tt itr r tt

cv; (2) i Cr ct th rmr mthd, th Ct thriz thr rth tt itr t ry; (3) i

Cr ct th r mthd, th Ct mwr (d rqir) ch tt t c ryi cv; d (4) th

Ct rthr mwr thr-rth th cv t ry.

7 Cm v. Mir, 307 U.S. 433 (1939). Tht cty w t rt th ri, bt y dicta (-thritv id cm-

mt) by r jc.

8 Adix A cti md i tht c b d t y r cv t dic bcd bdt mdmt.





39

9 Excty wh th wr t rcid d h t b dtrmid jdiciy, bt rmby it d wh th ic trir

rr cqc—i.., wh th 34-tt thrhd i rchd, Cr c th cv, r th cv cty

mt. Oc th 34-tt thrhd i rchd, th c d m bcm mry “miitri” (t dicrry), which wd

t tht th wr t rcid d 34 tt hv id.

10 Th t Str Sm Ervi (D.-N.C.) rrtd dirviy th btrcim m hi tri c dri th

1960. Sm J. Ervi, Jr., Proposed Legislaon to Implement the Convenon Method of Amending the Constuon , 66 Mich. L. Rv.

875, 878 (1968-68).

11 A “icidt” wr i md d brdit wr imicity rtd with wr xry rtd. Th ik i

crtd by th itt bhid th dcmt, ry hw by ctm r city. Wh th Ct rt cid wr

it ry rt icidt w. Th Ct’ dirc t Cr t c cv th tt icd thrity t

t th m d c bc tht thrity i rry icidt. O th thr hd, m wr r t bt t b ici-

dt mr wr t c, ch rcribi cv r d mthd dt c. O icidt wr d th

Ct, Gry Lw, Gry P. Mir, Rbrt G. Nt, d Gy I. Sidm, Th Orii th Ncry d Prr

C (Cmbrid Uivrity Pr, 2010). Chi Jc Rbrt wd thi yi icidt wr i NFIB v. Sbi, 132

S.Ct. 2566, 2591-93 (2012) (th “ObmCr” c).

12 U.S. Ct., Art. V. (“Prvidd tht . . . Stt, witht it Ct, h b drivd it q Sr i th St.”). Thi

m tht mdmt my t tr th Ct’ r tht ch tt h q wiht i th U.S. St. A mdmt

cd icr th mbr Str rm ch tt t thr, r rqir v by tt d. Bt it cd t, r xm,

iv Nw Yrk mr v wr th Nbrk.

13 Id. (“which, i ithr C, h b vid t Itt d Pr, Prt thi Ct, wh rd by th Litr

thr rth th vr Stt, r by Cv i thr rth thr”).

14 Stt iv thrity t itrct tt cmmiir h b ivr t itrtt cv, bth dri th Fd-

i Er d t th 1861 Whit Crc Cv. S Ry v. Bir, 343 U.S. 214 (1952) (hdi tt thrity t

itrct mmbr th ctr c).

15 Ntb m th bicizi th cri wr Y’ Chr Bck d Hrvrd’ Lwrc Trib; Srm Crt Jc Wr-

r Brr d Arthr Gdbr; Str Jh Tidi (D.-Md.) d Rbrt F. Kdy (D.-N.Y); d idivid withi th “K-

dy circ,” ch Gdbr d chwritr Thdr Sr.

16 Am th c mhizi tht mbi (itr d cv) m dr Arc V mt hv crti mt

dibrv rdm r Hwk v. Smith, 253 U.S. 221 (1920); I R Oii th Jc, 132 M. 491, 167 A. 176 (1933); Stt

x r. Hrr v. Wtrmir, 213 Mt. 425, 691 P.2d 826 (1984); AFL-CIO v. E, 36 C.3d 687, 206 C. Rtr. 89 (1984), stay denied

sub nom. Uhr v. AFL-CIO, 468 U.S. 1310 (1984); Dv v. Prit, 931 S.W. 2d 119 (Ark. 1996), cert. denied , 117 S.Ct. 181 (1997)

( ci rrt) (rqiri mby tht c i “itct dbt, dibr, r cidr”); L Wm

Vtr Mi v. Gwdky, 966 F.S. 52 (D. M. 1997); Brkr v. Hz, 3 F. S. 2d 1088, 1094 (D.S.D. 1998) (“Witht

dbt, Iitd Mr 1 bri t br d ic Sth Dkt’ cri cdidt, d th dibrv d

iddt mdmt rc viid by th Frmr wh thy drd Arc V i t.”); Grik v. Ck, 191 F.3d 911,

924-25 (8th

Cir. 1999), a’d on other grounds sub nom. Ck v. Grik, 531 U.S. 510 (2001); Mir v. Mr, 169 F.3d 1119 (8th

Cir.1999). Cf. Kimb v. Swckhmr, 439 U.S. 1385, appeal dismissed , 439 U.S. 1041 (1978) (Rhqit, J.) (hdi rrdm

Arc V q bc it w dviry rthr th mdtry); Dyr v. Bir, 390 F.S. 1291, 1308 (N.D. I. 1975) (Jc

Stv) (hdi r tt w Arc V mby, bt y bc th mby vtriy dtd it).

17 See Dyr v. Bir, 390 F. S. 1291 (N.D. I. 1975) (Stv, J.)

18 Th rm w dvd by th Mit itr, d riiy rd w:



SECTION 1. Th itr th Stt Mit hrby mk ic t th Cr, dr th rvii Arc V

th Ct th Uitd Stt, r th ci cv t r mdmt t th Ct th Uitd

Stt making United States Senators elecve in the several States by direct vote of the people .

Nc hw im d dirct th iticizd wrdi i; dri dti r t th cv. A it trd t, hwvr, C-

r rthr th cv drd th dti. Ar 31 tt ( hrt th dd 32 th th 48) hd rvd imir

ic, th U.S. St, which hd ritd th ch, y ctd t cri r wht bcm th 17 th

Amdmt.

19 I ri thr mdmt, it i qy imrtt t vid tryi t mdt rcr wrdi. Fr xm, th rd

N Dbt Ri Amdmt (which ALEC h drd), rvid tht “A icr i th dr dbt rqir rv rm

mjrity th itr th rt Stt.” A ic miht dcrib th bjct mr “ mdmt t th

Ct th Uitd Stt rbiddi icr i th dbt th Uitd Stt rvd by cid rr

tt itr.”

20 S Prt V: “Th Myth Rwy Cv.”

21 Th, it trmt: “I th q ct b wrd (d thy CANNOT!), th why wd y tt itr v

cidr v r ch crti vt Arc V Ct Cv?”

22 Lwrc H. Trib, Issues Raised by Requesng Congress to Call a Constuonal [sic] Convenon to Propose a Balanced Budget

Amendment , 10 Pc. L.J. 627 (1979) (rbihi rir iv tmy). Thi rc r virty r vidc

rm th hitric rcrd r c w.

23 Th ct r i Rbrt G. Nt, Proposing Constuonal Amendments by Convenons: Rules Governing the Process, 78 T.

L. Rv. 693, 719-23 (2011), vib t h://ct.i2i.r//2011/08/R_r_Art_V_Cv.d.

24 Wiim R P, The Applicaon Clause of the Amending Provision of the Constuon (Uiv. Nrth Cri, 1951) (b-

ihd). P wrkd ry rm th -cctd hi mtr, Prr W.S. Jki. P tr bcm diihd

cdmic ibrri.

25 Th cit th tdi r w: Amendment of the Constuon by the Convenon Method Under Arcle V (Amric Br

A’, 1974); Jh M. Hrm, Constuonal Convenon: Limitaon of Power to Propose Amendments to the Constuon, 3 Op. Off.

Legal Counsel 390 (1979); R C, Constuonal Brinksmanship (Oxrd Uivrity Pr, 1988).

26 Th tdi by th thr thi Hdbk r vib t h://ct.i2i.r/rc-bk--th-ct-by-rb-

t/ (cd tic). Th Rrt tdy i Mich B. Rrt, The Constuonality of a Limited Convenon: An Originalist

Analysis, 28 Ct. Cmmt. 53 (2012).

4




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Article V Handbook