On September 11, 2014, some of our nation’s finest legal minds convened to consider arguments for and against the use of Article V to restrain federal power. These experts specifically rejected the argument that a Convention of States is likely to be misused or improperly controlled by Congress, concluding instead that the mechanism provided by the Founders is safe. Moreover, they shared the conviction that Article V provides the only constitutionally effective means to restore our federal system. The conclusions of these prestigious experts are memorialized in The Jefferson Statement, which is reproduced here. The names and biographical information of the endorsers, who have formed a “Legal Board of Reference” for the Convention of States Project, are listed below the Statement.

Attachment: 3789/COSA_JeffersonStatement_102023_eVersion.pdf

Signed,           The   J EFFERSON       STATEMENT *Original signers of the Jefferson Statement W HEN THE NATION’S FINEST LEGAL MINDS   gathered at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. in  2014, they set out to consider arguments for and against the use of Article V to restrain federal power. But  like the Founding Fathers in 1787, they soon realized that they agreed unanimously that the option of an  Article V convention is safe, effective, and necessary. These experts, who subsequently signed the Jefferson Statement reproduced below, rejected the argument that an Article  V convention is likely to be misused or improperly controlled by Congress. They shared the conviction that Article V  provides the only constitutionally effective means to restore our federal system, and they formed the core of our Legal  Board of Reference, whose names you can find on the opposite side of this document. T HE  CONVENTION  OF  STATES   mechanism   is  safe,  and  it  is  the  only  constitutionally   effective  means  available  to  do  what  is  so   essential  for our nation. The Constitution’s Framers foresaw a day when the federal  government would exceed and abuse its enumerated  powers, thus placing our liberty at risk. George Mason was  instrumental in fashioning a mechanism by which “we the  people” could defend our freedom—the ultimate check on  federal power contained in Article V of the Constitution. Article V provides the states with the opportunity to  propose constitutional amendments through a process  called a Convention of States. This process is controlled by  the states from beginning to end on all substantive matters. A Convention of States is convened when 34 state  legislatures pass resolutions (applications) on an agreed  topic or set of topics. The Convention is limited to  considering amendments on these specified topics. While some have expressed fears that a Convention of  States might be misused or improperly controlled by  Congress, it is our considered judgment that the checks  and balances in the Constitution are more than sufficient  to ensure the integrity of the process. The Convention of States mechanism is safe, and it is the  only constitutionally effective means available to do what is  so essential for our nation—restoring robust federalism with  genuine checks on the power of the federal government. We share the Founders’ conviction that proper decision- making structures are essential to preserve liberty. We  believe that the problems facing our nation require  several structural limitations on the exercise of federal  power. While fiscal restraints are essential, we believe the  most effective course is to pursue reasonable limitations,  fully in line with the vision of our Founders, on the  federal government. Accordingly, I endorse the Convention of States Project,  which calls for an Article V Convention for “the sole  purpose of proposing amendments that impose fiscal  restraints on the federal government, limit the power and  jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms  of office for its officials and for members of Congress.” I  hereby agree to serve on the Legal Board of Reference for  the Convention of States Project. Randy E. Barnett* Charles J. Cooper* John C. Eastman* Michael P. Farris* Robert P. George* C. Boyden Gray* Mark Levin* Nelson Lund Andrew McCarthy* Mark Meckler* Mat Staver Randy E. Barnett  is a  graduate of Harvard Law  School and a professor  at t he G eorgetow n  University Law Center.  He represented the National Federation of  Independent Business in its constitutional  challenge to the Affordable Care Act. Charles J. Cooper  is a  founding member and  chairman of Cooper  & K i rk, PL LC. A  member of the Reagan  Administration, Mr. Cooper has argued  before the Supreme Court, and he  spent much of his career defending  constitutional rights as a top lawyer for  the National Rifle Association. John C. Eastman  is the  Founding Director of the  Center for Constitutional  Jurisprudence, a public  interest law firm affiliated  with the Claremont Institute. Prior  to joining the Fowler School of Law  faculty, he served as a law clerk with  Justice Clarence Thomas at the Supreme  Court of the United States and served in  the Reagan administration. Michael P. Farris  is the  Co-Founder and Senior  Advisor at Convention  of States Action. Mr.  Farris was the founding  president of the Home  School Legal Defense Association, where  he currently serves as Board Chairman.  He became the founding president of  Patrick Henry College in 2000, where he  currently serves as Chancellor Emeritus.  He has argued before the appellate  courts of 13 states, eight federal circuit  courts of appeals, and twice before the  Supreme Court of the United States.  Mr. Farris is largely known for his work  in constitutional appellate litigation,  religious freedom, homeschooling, and  political advocacy. Andrew McCarthy  is a  bestselling author, a Senior  Fellow at National Review  Institute, and a contributing  editor at National Review.  Mr. McCarthy is a former Chief Assistant  U.S. Attorney in New York. The late  C. Boyden Gray   was the founding partner of  Boyden Gray & Associates,  in Washington, D.C. Prior  to founding his law firm,  Ambassador Gray served as Legal Counsel  to Vice President Bush (1981–1989), as  White House Counsel in the administration  of President George H.W. Bush (1989– 1993), and as counsel to the Presidential  Task Force on Regulatory Relief during the  Reagan Administration. Mark Levin  is one of  America’s preeminent  constitutional lawyers and  the author of several New  York Times bestselling  books including Men in Black (2007),  Liberty and Tyranny (2010), Ameritopia  (2012), and The Liberty Amendments  (2013), which helped launch Convention  of States Action onto the national political  scene. In addition, he is the host of the  nationally-syndicated radio program The  Mark Levin Show and the top-rated Fox  News show Life, Liberty & Levin. Mr.  Levin has also served as a top advisor  to several members of President Ronald  Reagan’s Cabinet—including as Chief  of Staff to the Attorney General of the  United States, Edwin Meese. Robert P. George   is one of  the nation’s leading conser- vative legal scholars and is  the founding director of the  James Madison Program  in American Ideals and Institutions. He is  chairman of the United States Commission  on International Religious Freedom (US- CIRF) and has served as a presidential ap- pointee to the United States Commission  on Civil Rights. N e l s o n  L u n d  i s  University Professor at  George Mason University  School of Law. After  clerking for Justice Sandra  Day O’Connor, he served in the White  House as Associate Counsel to President  George H.W. Bush. Mark Meckler , (BA ’85/ JD ’88) is  President of   Convention  of  States   Act ion, home for t he  nation’s largest and most  active grassroots army, operating in all fifty  states. Mr. Meckler practiced business,  real estate, and internet law, and owned  and ran multiple businesses for over twenty  years. In 2009, he left the business and  legal world when he co-founded and served  as the National Coordinator of the Tea  Party Patriots. In 2013, he co-founded the  Convention of States Project with Michael  Farris, and has subsequently focused on  political and grassroots organizing and  constitutional law. Mat Staver,  B.A. M.A.,  J.D., B.C.S., serves as  Senior Pastor, Founder  and Chairman of Liberty  Counsel; Chairman of  Liberty Counsel Action,  Faith and Liberty, National Pro-life Center,  Freedom Federation, Salt & Light Council,  and National House of Hope; Founder and  Chairman of Liberty Relief International;  Vice President and Chief Counsel of the  National Hispanic Christian Leadership  Conference (which includes over 42,000  Evangelical Hispanic churches); Trustee,  Timothy Plan, a family of mutual funds  traded in New York and Tel Aviv; and  former dean of Liberty University School  of Law. He has produced the  “Why Israel  Matters” TV show, as well as produces and  hosts Faith & Freedom and Freedom’s Call,  daily radio programs, and Freedom Alive,  a weekly TV program. He is married to  Anita, who is president of Liberty Counsel.  Mat and Anita have one daughter, three  grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. [email protected] “The  Convention  of  States  mechanism  is  safe,  and  it  is  the  only constitutionally     effective  means  available  to  do  what  is  so  essential  for our nation.” Support the only solution that is as big as the problem. Sign the petition at  ConventionOfStates.com. www.conventionofstates.com