COS Myths vs Facts

Attachment: 4199/DigitalMythvsFact8.5x11inCOS052024.pdf | 





FACTS

MYTHS

VS

VS

AR TICLE V

OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

**MYTH:**

** THE CONVENTION WILL BE A RUNAWAY**

MORE 

SOURCES 

journals.law.harvard.edu/jlpp

/wp-content/uploads/sites/9

0/2017/03/Farris_FINAL.pdf

Harvard Law Journal

csac.history.wisc.edu/docu

ment-collections/the-consti

tutional-convention/convent

ion-delegates/

UW Madison - CSAC

//Talking P//oints on reverse side

founders.archives.gov/docum

ents/Madison/01-10-02-0236

The Federalist Number 40

archives.gov/milestone-docum

ents/articles-of-confederation

Articles of Confederation

Read more information in detail by scanning the QR Code.

For even more information visit: ConventionOfStates.com/resources

Disclaimer: Info provided is not exhaustive. Consult multiple sources for a comprehensive 
understanding. This content is intended for presentation of research and factual informational 
purposes to be used in combination with mobile device. 

/i2i.org/no-a-convention-of-s

tates-could-not-change-the-

one-state-one-vote-rule/

Independence Institute

• State legislatures authorize and instruct delegates.
• Delegates act as agents of the state legislatures and 

must follow their instructions

• State legislatures can revoke delegates’ authority.

FACTS

**MYTH**

:

** THERE ARE NO RULES FOR CONVENTION**

• Historical precedent. 40+ interstate conventions. 
• Convention can only act on agenda set by 34 state 

applications

• One vote per state.
• Majority of states present, and voting required for 

adoption of any measure.

FACTS

**MYTH:**

** IT CAN REWRITE OUR CONSTITUTION**

• By the plain text of Article V, a convention can only 

“propose amendments” to “this Constitution.”

• Only extremely popular amendments can be 

proposed and ratified (38 states to ratify). 

• Article V gives no authority to rewrite the Constitution.

FACTS

**MYTH:**

** NULLIFICATION IS THE ANSWER**

• Constitution gives the states no power of

nullification, except through Article V.

• Many federal actions (spending, treaty-making, 

enforcement of federal laws against individuals) 
can't be stopped through nullification.

FACTS

“One of the painful 
realities of our 
times is how long a 
political lie can 
survive, even after 
having been 
disproved years 
ago, or even 
generations ago.”

//(540)441-7227 | CONVENTIONOFSTATES.COM //

//FACEBOOK.COM/CONVENTIONOFSTATES | X/COSPROJECT//

— Thomas Sowell





https://conventionofstates.com/learn-more

FOR EVEN MORE INFORMATION VISIT: 

1

What is an Article V Convention?

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 

AND AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION

An Article V convention is directed by the state legislatures for the purpose of 
proposing amendments to the Constitution. It is not a constitutional convention. It 
cannot throw out the Constitution because its authority is derived from the Constitution.

The Article V convention’s only power is to propose amendments to our current U.S. 
Constitution, which must fit the scope of the state applications and be ratified by law. 

LEARN MORE

GO TO

ConventionOfStates.com/-

frequently-asked-questions
Or to COScaucus.org/faqs

Learn  about these and other 
topics like “Dark Money”, 
“Constitutional Convention”
conflation, Fear Language: 
“Fundamental Change” “Rewrite 
Constitution” “Taking Away 
Rights” and more on these topics.

CONSTITUTIONAL 

CONVENTION

ACTION

ARTICLE V 

CONVENTION

Propose Amendments

Propose New Constitution

Limited to State Passed  

Subject Applications

Full Power, Unlimited

Application of 2/3 States

Individual Amendments

New Constitution

Ratified by three-fourths and 

binds all states

Only binds States 

that Ratify

Unanimous Consent of States 

to be Bound,

⅔

¾

22

33

44

55

11

ConventionOfStates.com/news/article-v-vs-constitutional-convention

2

An Article V Convention Is Not a 
Constitutional Convention

The U.S. Constitution was properly ratified. The States, though imperfect, can 
be better trusted to propose amendments than Congress

ConventionOfStates.com/files/can-we-trust-the-constitution

4

Can we trust the U.S. Constitution?

conventionofstates.com/news/watch-antonin-scalia

3

Scalia Against an Article V?

The late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia understood that the foundation of 
democracy is an accountable federal government.

CONVENTIONOFSTATES.COM   GO TO COSCAUCUS.ORG/FAQS

Propose

Power

Requirement

To Call

Scope of Ratification

by the States

//for a more in depth look and more differences between a constitutional Convention and an Article V convention go to: //

//conventionofstates.com/files/an-article-v-convention-is-not-a-constitutional-convention-1//

Vote of Ratification

by the States| —- | Page Metadata || |Login Required to view? |No | |Created: |2024-03-11 15:55 GMT| |Updated: |2025-03-11 03:00 GMT| |Published: |2024-03-11 05:00 GMT| |Converted: |2025-11-11 12:29 GMT| |Change Author: |Kristen Stanciu | |Credit Author: | |