Crs Report for Congress

Article V of the U.S. Constitution provides two methods of proposing amendments. First, Congress, with the approval of two-thirds of both houses, may propose amendments to the states for ratification, a procedure used to propose all 27 current amendments to the Constitution. Second, if the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (34 at present) apply, Congress shall call a convention for considering and proposing amendments. This alternative, known as an Article V Convention, has not been implemented to date. This report examines the Article V Convention method, focusing on contemporary issues for Congress. A companion report, The Article V Convention for Proposing Constitutional Amendments: Historical Perspectives for Congress, examines this procedure’s constitutional origins; reviews the history of 20th century campaigns to call a convention; and provides an analysis of state procedures in the Article V Convention process. After three decades of inactivity, various contemporary developments could contribute to a renewal of congressional interest in the Article V Convention alternative. The emergence of Internet and social media-driven public policy and issue campaigns has combined with renewed interest in specific constitutional amendments, and the Article V Convention procedure in general, as a means of bypassing perceived policy deadlock at the federal level. …