What is Article V of the U.S. Constitution?
Why some far-right Republicans only want their amendments to be included
Issue #268 Education March 1, 2023
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As the far-right MAGA Republicans continue to try to force their draconian minority rule on the entire United States population regardless of what the American people actually want, a relatively new movement is gaining steam. The "Convention of the States" is an attempt to get enough state legislatures to meet, eliminate unpopular (in their view) amendments, and propose new amendments to radically change the current Constitution.
Currently, all existing amendments, starting with the 1st ten amendments (known as the "Bill of Rights") have gone through the process of two-thirds of Congress approving the amendment, and then three-quarters of the states ratifying it.
Republicans such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, and Fox News host Sean Hannity have publicly expressed their support for what is called the “Academy of States 3.0.”
One of the reasons why the Republicans, who are also tied to the "religious right," want to seize control of the U.S. Constitution is that they fear the resurgence of support to finally get enough states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would codify gender equality nationwide.
The Republicans have said that the ERA would give women the power to determine their own reproductive rights, including the right to birth control and to abortion.
The Equal Rights Amendment was first drafted in 1923 by two leaders of the women’s suffrage movement, Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman. Within a year, 30 of the necessary 38 states acted to ratify the ERA. However, in 1972, Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative lawyer and activist from Illinois who led the STOP ERA campaign, argued that the measure would lead to gender-neutral bathrooms, same-sex marriage, and women in military combat, among other things.
These are some of the same issues that current Republicans are still strongly against.
So, what is Article V of the United States Constitution?
Article V potentially provides a way for the states to bypass Congress, although it has never been used.
Article V says that "...on the Application of two-thirds of the Legislatures of the several States, [Congress] shall call a Convention for proposing amendments."
The convention can propose amendments, whether Congress approves of them or not. Those proposed amendments would then be sent to the states for ratification. As with an amendment proposed by Congress, three-quarters of the states would have to ratify the amendment for it to become part of the Constitution.
This process has been proposed by Republicans and Republican state legislators as a way to make changes to the Constitution without Congress’ approval.
Republican-controlled state legislatures want to change to Constitution to fit their extreme worldviews. However, during the 2022 midterm elections, the Democrats flipped the Minnesota Senate, Michigan Senate for the first time since 1985, Michigan House of Representatives, and Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Republican control, and established a coalition government in the Alaska Senate.
This is why it is important that the number of Republican-controlled state legislatures must continue to be reduced in 2024.
The Founders made it difficult for amendments to be added to the Constitution on purpose.
This is also why it is important to understand why the Republicans are trying so hard to make it more difficult for people who oppose their policies to more easily exercise their right to vote.
Eliminating some Constitutional amendments and adding others are some of the goals of the far right.
What do you think about these initiatives?
Let us know in the comments or start a dialogue in the chat (for paid subscribers).
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