Gaining Steam? Nearly 100 Lawmakers Descend on Mount Vernon to Talk Convention of States

Close to 100 legislators from 32 states met in Mount Vernon, Va., Saturday to discuss the possibility of adding amendments to the U.S. Constitution through a convention of the states.

Such a convention, as outlined in article five of the Constitution, would allow state legislatures to vote on amendments to add.

Opened & closed with prayer...#MountVernonAssembly pic.twitter.com/WRg9EZscF3

— KevinJones (@kevinicolejones) December 7, 2013

The proposed resolution at the #MountVernonAssembly #ArticleV pic.twitter.com/8YGlnupPiO

— Brett Hildabrand (@Brett4ks) December 7, 2013

No constitutional amendment has been added this way, but some say the Constitution specifically allows for states to use the convention as a means to push back against the federal government.

Two-thirds of the state legislatures, or 34, must approve an application for a convention to occur, according to the Constitution's article five. State legislatures would then send delegates to the convention, each state getting one vote on proposed amendments. For an amendment to pass and become a part of the Constitution, it would have to be approved by three-fourths, or 38, of the state legislatures.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/RapertSenate/statuses/409321893121249280"]

Lawmakers on Saturday discussed term limits on U.S. lawmakers and certain limits on federal taxation and spending as possible amendments, Red Millennial noted.

State legislators stressed Saturday the bipartisan nature of support for the discussed amendments, citing a recent poll that shows 74 percent of Americans support a balanced budget amendment while another 75 percent support congressional term limits.

Saturday’s Mount Vernon meeting was organized by Indiana state Sen. David Long and Wisconsin Rep. Chris Kapenga.

Joining with 97 legislators from 32 states to assert the role of state government in a time of massive... pic.twitter.com/lknqwAYQ3d

— Senator Kelli Ward (@kelliwardaz) December 7, 2013

97 legislators from 32 states met for the Mt Vernon Assembly to consider rules for an Article V conv. pic.twitter.com/mRzSdn9cgy

— Rep. Bill Taylor (@TaylorSCHouse) December 7, 2013

There has been growing support for the idea of a convention, but there is also healthy skepticism.

Still, regardless of whether one thinks it’s a realistic idea, Virginia and South Carolina have both pre-filed applications for a convention, meaning some are taking the idea very seriously.

Saturday’s meeting represents the most recent attempt by legislators to discuss seriously the possibility of adding amendments to the Constitution through a convention.

You can see more lawmakers’ tweets here.

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Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image @kevinicolejones.

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