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Article V History Download
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 Historical Attempts to Call An Article V Convention 10/1/2025 1 Historical Attempts to Call an Article V Convention Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two methods for proposing amendments: by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress (the method used for all 27 existing amendments) or by a convention called by Congress upon applications from two- thirds of state legislatures (34 out of 50 states today). The convention method has never been successfully invoked to hold such a gathering, but there have been numerous attempts throughout U.S. history. These e orts have often focused on specific issues, reflecting political priorities of the era, but none have reached the required threshold. Below is an overview of major attempts, drawn from a variety of historical records. Key Historical Attempts Issue Time Period States Applying (Peak) Outcome Notes Repeal of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) 1920s– 1933 33 Fell short by 1 state; Congress proposed the 21st Amendment instead Closest historical call; states sought to end Prohibition via convention, but Congress acted directly to avoid a convention. Apportionment/Redistricting Reform (Reversing “one person, one vote” rulings like Reynolds v. Sims ) 1960s 33 Fell short by 1 state Led by Sen. Everett Dirksen; aimed to allow unequal legislative districts based on population. E ort ended with Dirksen's death in 1969. Balanced Budget Amendment 1970s– 1980s 32 Fell short by 2 states Took 7 years to organize; some applications later rescinded. Revived in recent decades with 28 states as of 2024.  Historical Attempts to Call An Article V Convention 10/1/2025 2 Direct Election of Senators 19th– early 20th century ~31 (exact peak unclear) Congress proposed the 17th Amendment in 1912 Preceded the congressional route; convention e ort gained traction but was bypassed. Federal Regulation of Child Labor Early 20th century 28 Fell short; Supreme Court struck down related laws Progressive Era push; Congress never called due to insu icient applications. Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) 1970s 30 Fell short by 4 states Sought gender equality protections; convention alternative to Congressional proposal (which passed but failed ratification). Term Limits for Congress 1990s 23 Ongoing but far short Conservative-led; some states have rescinded applications in recent years. Current and Ongoing Campaigns (as of 2025) Modern e orts are more fragmented, with overlapping applications on related topics. No single issue has reached 34 states, but combinations could theoretically trigger a convention if Congress deems them su icient. Major campaigns include: Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) : 28 states. Focuses on mandating fiscal restraint; supported by fiscal conservatives. Convention of States (COS) : 19 states. Broader push for limits on federal power, including term limits and fiscal restraints. Critics fear it could lead to a “runaway convention” proposing unrelated changes. Wolf-PAC (Campaign Finance Reform) : 6 states. Aims to overturn Citizens United and regulate money in politics. Term Limits : Overlaps with COS; ~23 states total across e orts. Together, these account for applications from about 28 states (some multi-issue), but legal debates persist over whether applications must be identical or time-limited.  Historical Attempts to Call An Article V Convention 10/1/2025 3 Why No Convention Has Occurred Threshold Barrier : Reaching 34 states requires sustained bipartisan coordination, which has proven elusive amid partisan divides. Congressional Preemption : When close (e.g., Prohibition, senators), Congress has proposed amendments directly to sidestep a convention. Fears of a “Runaway Convention” : Like the 1787 Philadelphia Convention (which exceeded its mandate to amend the Articles of Confederation), a modern one might propose sweeping changes. Article V o ers no rules on scope, delegate selection, or proceedings, leaving it to Congress and states—fueling opposition from groups like Common Cause. Rescissions : States can (and have) withdrawn applications, diluting momentum. Historical Pace : E orts often span decades, with slow state legislative action acting as a natural brake. These attempts highlight Article V's role as a “safety valve” for state-driven reform, but its unused status underscores the preference for congressional proposals. For deeper dives, resources like the Congressional Research Service reports provide detailed timelines. |
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| Created: | 2025-10-02 01:30 GMT |
| Updated: | 2025-10-02 01:30 GMT |
| Published: | 2025-10-02 01:30 GMT |
| Converted: | 2025-11-11 12:37 GMT |
| Change Author: | Diana Telles |
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public/cb_mirror/article_v_history_download_pdf_files_31371.txt · Last modified: 2025/11/11 12:37 by 127.0.0.1