Over 400 Applications – Where the Call to Convention?

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Once congress receives applications from 2/3 of the states, it is duty bound to call a convention.

Over 400 applications have been submitted. Where is the call to convention?

Check out Federalist #85. Alexander Hamilton: By the fifth article of the Constitution, the congress will be obliged “on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the states to call a convention for proposing amendments, which shall . . . ” The words of this article are peremptory. Congress SHALL call a convention. Nothing is left to the discretion of Congress. Consequently, all the arguments about the disinclination to change vanish.

In a January 2nd 1789 letter to George Eve (Madison Writings pages 428-429), James Madison wrote, “It is to be observed however that the question concerning a General Convention, will not belong to the federal Legislature. If 2/3 of the States apply for one, Congress can not refuse to call it: if not, the other mode of amendments must be pursued.”

Oh.