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posted by martyb on Friday December 11 2015, @05:50AM   Printer-friendly
from the pandora's-box dept.

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.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @10:10AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @10:10AM (#274905)

    Earliest recorded political use, maybe.

    There's many other much earlier examples of similar phrases in a similar vein, though. For example, here's one from a biography of an Irish Catholic priest published in the first half of the 19th century:

    And on another occasion, when he thought it necessary to defend himself from an unjust aspersion-

    "It is for the sake of those connected with me as well as myself, that I enter into this vindication. I entertain no ill-feeling towards any person on account of his religious opinions. My nearest relatives are members of the Established Church, and my best friends are Quakers, Protestants, and Presbyterians"

    Pretty much exactly the same sentiment as your 1908 quote - which is itself different from the more recent "I'm not X-ist; some of my best friends are X" stereotype.

  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Saturday December 12 2015, @05:23PM

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Saturday December 12 2015, @05:23PM (#275450) Journal
    Heh, I yield. It goes back a ways.