Forwarded message:
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 22:53:06 +0000 From: "Douglas L. Peterson" <fnorky@chisp.net> Subject: Re: How to reign the federal government in...
As per Article V, two thirds of the States can call a Convention to propose Amendments. I believe this would be 33 of our current 50 states. Territories and other holding would have no say in this. At this point, if three fourths of the states agree to any proposed Amendments, it becomes the law of the land.
We only need two thirds of the States to start the process, but this must be done by their Legislatures.
Which is exactly what I said. The goal of the party would be to get proposed amendments on the floor each state legislature for vote.
The IRS, for example, could be shut down tomorrow or significantly modified via this mechanism without involvement at the federal level.
I assume this would be either by nullifying Amendment 15 or modifying it to a great degree. Nothing else would work.
That's the way I see it as well, which is the point after all.
What is needed is a political party that has a representative site in each state capital. Their job is to get proposed amendments to the Constitution on the floor of each body for vote.
Actually, it would not be to get the proposed amendments on the floor. You would be putting the proposal for a Convention to amend the Constitution on the floor. In addition, depending on the State, the party would likely need to have a member elected to that States Legislature.
Actualy it is. The Convention is only to create the amendment, the actual vote takes place in the state legislatures, not the convention.
That is why Article V was written as it was. It provides a backdoor to keep the federal government from getting out of control.
Absolutely. Now, let's kick the beggar in! ____________________________________________________________________ Technology cannot make us other than what we are. James P. Hogan The Armadillo Group ,::////;::-. James Choate Austin, Tx /:'///// ``::>/|/ ravage@ssz.com www.ssz.com .', |||| `/( e\ 512-451-7087 -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- --------------------------------------------------------------------