fbpx

Stopping a Dangerous Article V Convention

The only way to defend our values against this threat is if ordinary people like us step up to make a difference. Join the fight today.

Assembly Passes Resolution Ensuring Decades Old Calls for Constitutional Conventions Aren’t Manipulated for Future, Unrelated Purposes

News Release
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 20, 2024

Assembly Passes Resolution Ensuring Decades Old Calls for Constitutional Conventions Aren’t Manipulated for Future, Unrelated Purposes

Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Ken Zebrowski today announced that the Assembly passed a resolution rescinding all previous applications made by the New York State Legislature to call for a constitutional convention (K.797, Zebrowski).

“We cannot let Americans be held hostage to the whims of those that want to limit our rights or alter our democracy,” Speaker Heastie said. “By rescinding historical calls, we will ensure that the actions of our predecessors – decades or even centuries ago – are not manipulated in a way that would limit the rights of current and future generations.”

“Our rights are too important to leave up to chance,” said Assemblymember Zebrowski. “Definitively rescinding all previous calls for a constitutional convention will keep those working in bad faith from using resolutions passed in a different time and different context to alter the course of our country and our Constitution.”

The resolution passed today repeals and rescinds prior calls for a federal constitutional convention. This will ensure that wealthy interest groups are not able to apply New York’s previous, unrelated calls for a constitutional convention to hold one in the future.

Article V of the U.S. Constitution allows for the amending of the constitution upon application by two thirds of states. Constitutional scholars differ on if historical applications for a constitutional convention expire, and if regardless of the scope of the original resolution or application, a previous application could be used for unrelated calls in the future. New York State Legislature has passed resolutions calling for a constitutional convention three times in the past, including calling for amendments to the constitution to promote common interests and secure the inalienable rights of mankind in 1789, the repeal of the 18th amendment in 1931 and the allowance of public funds for secular education in 1972.

Related News

Inside Mike Johnson’s Ties to a Far-Right Movement to Gut the Constitution

The new House speaker has longstanding ties to the evangelical inspired Convention of States cause. As the interregnum without a speaker of the House came to an end last month, people from across the political spectrum came together, in a rare show of unity, to ask a single question: Who in the world is Mike […]

Read More >

Former Governors Mike Huckabee and Scott Walker Descend on SC State House and Create Confusion

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recently visited the South Carolina State House to gather support for their “balanced budget amendment.”   What they did not discuss, however, was the damage a convention could do to the United States and the Constitution if this were to be called.   This pro-convention campaign is the one that has progressed the […]

Read More >

Turning to a Convention of States in Times of National Crisis is Not the Answer

Turning to a Convention of States in Times of National Crisis is Not the Answer By Dorothy Moon, IDGOP Chairwoman January 4, 2023 Our country is in a rough place right now, perhaps the worst since the Civil War. Spending is out of control, our southern border is wide open, and Congress seems to be […]

Read More >

Breaking: New Polling Shows Majority of Republican Voters Oppose Changing Constitution through an Article V Constitutional Convention

A new national poll done by J. Wallin Opinion Research revealed a majority (59.2%) of Republican voters oppose changing the U.S. Constitution by calling an Article V Constitutional Convention. Further evidence in the poll shows the reluctance of Republican voters to take drastic steps to alter this foundational document.  Protecting and preserving the rights guaranteed […]

Read More >

Explaining Ron DeSantis’ effort to call a convention of states and amend the US Constitution

Explaining Ron DeSantis’ effort to call a convention of states and amend the US Constitution PolitiFact February 1, 2024 By Louis Jacobson and Samantha Putterman He dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had pushed to “make America Florida,” is still aiming to shape national policy. DeSantis is proposing […]

Read More >

The Wisconsin Assembly just approved a resolution to call a dangerous Article V convention – what happens now?

AJR-77, a resolution calling for an Article V constitutional convention, was passed in the State House last week, February 18. The vote in the house was 60-38. The House is 63 R – 36 D, meaning some Republicans votedagainst this application for a convention.  Wisconsin already has an active convention resolution for the Balanced Budget Amendment, passed in 2017. Former […]

Read More >

Colorado Rescinds Calls for Article V Constitutional Convention

Last week, lawmakers in Colorado took the important action of rescinding all of Colorado’s previous calls for an Article V constitutional convention. This crucial legislation removes Colorado from the dangerous equation many state legislatures have fallen prey to by wealthy special interests looking to start a constitutional convention when they hit the 34 state threshold […]

Read More >

The Legislature’s con-con con job | Editorial

The Legislature’s con-con con job | Editorial By SUN SENTINEL EDITORIAL BOARD | Sun Sentinel PUBLISHED: January 4, 2024 at 11:59 a.m. | UPDATED: January 4, 2024 at 12:05 p.m. The 2024 Florida legislative session kicks into gear Tuesday, and the opening day’s agenda tells you all you need to know about what deserves immediate […]

Read More >

Stay Connected

We need your help before it's too late. Join our mailing list to receive important updates and help us mobilize.