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.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by SubiculumHammer on Friday December 11 2015, @06:18AM
Balanced Budget? Are they fucking insane?
Disaster.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @06:22AM
It's a bloody fiat currency anyways, it's time to collapse the ""central banks" and steal all the gold again. You know, just like we did multiple times before. I swear I'd login but I'm drunk and I don't remember my login...
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Whoever on Friday December 11 2015, @06:31AM
No, that's just the lead. The real target will be to gut parts of the bill of rights, starting with the 4th amendment.
(Score: 4, Informative) by curunir_wolf on Friday December 11 2015, @10:17AM
The real target will be to gut parts of the bill of rights, starting with the 4th amendment.
Why would they bother starting with the 4th? It's already ignored and irrelevant anyway.
I am a crackpot
(Score: 2) by mr_mischief on Friday December 11 2015, @03:39PM
More likely they'd start with the 2nd. Maybe they'd hit the sixth, fifth, second, fourth, and first simultaneously.