The Simulated Article V Premiere Film
The Founding Fathers were wise, yet imperfect men who framed a great nation with a great Constitution – but it was not a perfect Constitution. They themselves recognized that there would come a day when time or circumstances would require amendments, some of which could only be achieved through the state-led convention process. Having lain dormant since America’s founding, it is time for us to breathe life into this important constitutional safety valve by demonstrating the interstate convention process known so well to the Founders.
In early August 2023, commissioners from across the entire country, representing 49 states, met in Colonial Williamsburg. They worked diligently to craft, discuss, and vote on proposed amendments on 3 essential topics: term limits, fiscal restraints, and limitations on the scope, power, and jurisdiction of the federal government.
Article V
Article V of the U.S. Constitution was drafted by the Framers to grant the states, and in turn, the people, the ability to amend the Constitution and limit a potentially oppressive federal government. The Framers designed Article V to provide a method to completely bypass Congress and the Executive branch to allow the states the ultimate power to return our nation to federalism.
Just as the Framers predicted, an unbridled federal government has expanded its power beyond what the states granted it when the Constitution was drafted. Today, we understand that the Washington establishment will never voluntarily relinquish its control, regardless of which party is in power.
Thankfully, the Framers granted us this constitutional provision as the ultimate check and balance for the states to rein in the federal government by calling for a formal meeting (convention) to discuss and propose amendments to limit the federal government’s power. Calling for an Article V Convention is a response to the structural problem of an expansion of the limited and enumerated powers given initially to the federal government by the states.
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined.
Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.
James Madison, Federalist No. 313--14,
Jan. 26, 1788