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

Do you trust far-right politicians working to remake the Kansas and US Constitutions? | Opinion

Do you trust far-right politicians working to remake the Kansas and US Constitutions? | Opinion Joel Mathis Thu, January 4, 2024 at 4:07 a.m. MST The Kansas City Star Do you trust Kansas state Sen. Mike Thompson with the U.S. Constitution? You probably shouldn’t. Thompson, the Shawnee Republican, had a long career as a jovial […]

Read More >

Save the Constitution. GOP and Dem legislators agree: Don’t be conned by the Con-Con | Opinion

BY REP. ILANA RUBEL AND REP. JUDY BOYLE FEBRUARY 18, 2024 “Washington at Constitutional Convention of 1787, signing of U.S. Constitution” by Junius Brutus Stearns Public Domain We are of different political parties and often disagree, but are allied in our fierce devotion to America’s Constitution. It is now under serious threat from well-meaning people […]

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 >

Convention of States “Reopen America” Ploy

“I don’t think it’s helpful to encourage demonstrations and encourage people to go against the president’s own policy,” Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”   And yet, that is what is happening around the country as Facebook groups and special interest lobbying organizations are engineering protests at capitols around the nation for states continuing stay-at-home orders as […]

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 >

Op-Ed by New Jersey Leadership Highlights Threat of Article V Convention

Just before the new year, New Jersey became the latest state to rescind all calls for a constitutional convention. In doing so, New Jersey takes part in removing applications asking for a constitutional convention that, if it were to happen, leaves the door wide open for a complete runaway convention that has the power to […]

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 >

Stay Connected

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