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The U.S. Constitution has 27 amendments; each was proposed by Congress and ratified by the states.
However, the Constitution sets forth another procedure, never before used, for amending the Constitution. At the request of two thirds of the states, a constitutional convention would be held, at which amendments could be proposed. Any proposals would become part of the Constitution if three fourths of the states ratified them, either at state conventions or in the state legislatures.
Currently, 27 of the needed 34 states have petitioned Congress for a constitutional convention, for the ostensible purpose of writing a balanced-budget amendment (BBA). However, the convention might propose other changes in addition or instead of a BBA—even a total rewrite of the Constitution—if 38 states agreed, the changes would become law.
In November, legislators from 30 states met in Salt Lake City to discuss the matter.
- Forbes article from 2014 (mirror)
- John Birch Society (has a map)
- utahpolicy.com
- Deseret News
- Yellowhammer News
- The Universe—Brigham Young University
- San Francisco Chronicle
- KSTU-TV
- The Columbian
- Washington Post blog about historical attempts at constitutional conventions
- The Spokesman-Review
(Score: 2) by jmorris on Friday December 11 2015, @07:47AM
As others already remind, the Constitutional Convention which gave us our current constitution was equally limited to tweaking the Articles of Confederation. Mission creep happened and it happened almost instantly.
No, the protection is that just like last time a Convention can only propose Amendments (or even a whole new Constitution should they too decide to go beyond their mandate) but they still require ratification by the States exactly like Amendments proposed by Congress. If thirty-seven States are ready to go full bore Communist, Theocracy, Fascist, whatever nightmare scenario most frightens you, then that is what we are going to do. Doesn't seem all that likely that should enough states be angry at the out of control Federal government we have now to do this thing that they are then going to turn around and authorize some totalitarian monster that will render them extinct.