Reading Guide and Discussion Questions on Amending the Constitution
During 2015, the LWVUS Constitutional Amendment Committee will conduct a study
and member agreement process on amending our nation’s Constitution.
Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two ways of proposing amendments to the
nation’s fundamental charter. Congress, by a two-thirds vote of both chambers, may
propose constitutional amendments to the states for ratification. OR, the legislatures of
two-thirds of the states (34 at present) may ask Congress to call a convention to
propose amendments to the Constitution; this is commonly called an Article V
Convention. Amendments proposed by either method must be ratified by three-fourths
of the states, 38 at present.
The first method has been used by Congress to submit 33 amendments to the states,
beginning with the Bill of Rights. Of these, 27 were approved; 26 are currently in effect,
while one – the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) — was ultimately repealed.
The second method, an Article V Convention, has never been successfully invoked.
In addition to other topics, our League study will explore the process for proposing an
Article V Convention in order to determine whether LWVUS would support such a
convention and if so, under what circumstances. Here are some articles for Local
Leagues that want to begin to prepare for the study.
Amending the Constitution Through a Convention
John D. Feerick
American Bar Association Journal
March, 1974, Volume 60, pp. 285-288
In the early 1970s, a committee of the American Bar Association studied the
procedures and processes for amending the constitution by convention. This
article contains a summary of their analysis and recommendations. Available
here.
The Article V Convention to Propose Constitutional Amendments:
Contemporary Issues for Congress
Thomas H. Neale
Specialist in American National Government
Congressional Research Service
April 11, 2014 (43 pages)
This article, prepared by the Congressional Research Service, focuses on the
procedural issues that Congress might face invoking an Article V convention. It
covers recent developments, including the balanced budget amendment.
Available here.
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The Article V Convention for Proposing Constitutional Amendments:
Historical Perspectives for Congress
Thomas H. Neale
Specialist in American National Government
Congressional Research Service
October 12, 2012 (22 pages)
This article, prepared by the Congressional Research Service, places the Article V
convention in historical perspective. It addresses historical and current efforts to
invoke a convention, as well as the role of the states in the process. Available
here.
Article V Convention Discussion Questions
Here are some questions for consideration and discussion as you read and think about
the background articles on an Article V Constitutional Convention.
The questions included here are not consensus questions; they are questions to be
thinking about as you explore the reading in order to expand your knowledge about the
Article V Convention process.
How Would the Convention Process Work?
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Role of the States
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Role of Congress
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How does a state apply for a convention?
Can a state limit its application to a single topic?
Is a simple majority enough for legislative passage?
Has your state ever issued an application for an Article V Convention?
How are state applications counted?
Must all applications counted refer to the same subject?
Or, are all state applications counted together (regardless of subject)?
Are specifically worded amendments permitted?
Are applications valid indefinitely, or is there a time limit?
Who decides?
Can Congress be forced to call a convention?
Can Congress set, limit, or expand the topics for a convention?
Can Congress determine the number and method by which delegates are
chosen or the rules of procedure?
Delegate selection
o How can/should delegates be selected by the states?
 action by the legislature?
 appointed?
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election?
o Can states have different selection systems? Different number of
delegates?
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How should delegates be apportioned?
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By state population at large, with each state’s representation based on its
total population?
By state, with each state having the same number of representatives?
Convention action
o Does each state have one vote or is voting based on population?
o What are and who sets the rules of procedure, including voting by state or
by individual delegates – majority or super majority vote?
o Can the convention hold secret sessions?
o When does the convention end?
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Ratification
o Is Congress required to send any amendments proposed by an Article V
Convention to the states for ratification?
o If the Convention proposes multiple amendments, can the states ratify
selectively?
o Who pays? Can the President block an Article V Convention by vetoing
any appropriation for the Convention’s work?
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Court review: what, if anything, is reviewable in federal or state courts?
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