Where the Constitution’s Word “Convention” Came From
“The Congress . . . shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid . […]
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How the States Have Used the “Convention of States” Procedure
This article first appeared Aug. 15, 2017 in The Hill. Representatives of state legislatures from across the nation will converge
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List of Conventions of States and Colonies in American History
Introduction Conventions of states, and before Independence of colonies, have met frequently over the past three centuries. A “Convention for
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How Should We Draft a Balanced Budget Amendment?
The idea of a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution (BBA) has been highly popular since the 1970s. Yet
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The Last Convention of States Held Before Phoenix in 2017: The Upper Colorado River Commission
I recently obtained the records of what may be the last convention of states held before the gathering in Phoenix
The Story of Conventions of States in American History
In this short essay, constitutional historian Rob Natelson thumbnails the three-centuries long history of “conventions of the states.” When delegations
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Convention Rules for a Convention of the States
The convention of the states meeting in Phoenix, Arizona in September will need a set of rules. Moreover, that convention
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The Runaway Convention Myth: How Academics and other Opinion Leaders Promoted It
You may have heard alarms that if we hold a national convention for proposing constitutional amendments the gathering would be
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Yes, the Constitution was adopted legally
An old myth has showed up in the media again: the myth that delegates to the 1787 Constitution Convention violated
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A Founder Gives Us a Lesson on the Constitution’s Amendment Process
Among the best tools for interpreting the Constitution are public explanations by its advocates made during the ratification fight. These
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Scalia Probably Favored An Amendments Convention — But Does It Matter?
A majority of state legislatures have voted to trigger the U.S. Constitution’s most important procedure for reforming the federal government.
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Phoenix, 2017: The First National Convention of States in 150 Years!
Americans finally have a real chance to “clean up the mess in Washington.” That’s the implication of the news that
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