"WE THE PEOPLE"

In the 60s the phrase "We the People" saw a resurgence in popularity as trust in the federal government began to diminish. Americans of all walks of life wanted to know that we lived under a government of freedom as expressed by Abraham Lincoln, and that 'government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.'

Though confidence in the federal government was waning, people continued to embrace the wisdom of the Founding Fathers and the value of the U.S. Constitution. The writers of the U.S. Constitution really were smart people. They included methods that help to ensure that citizens of this great country would be in charge. They included Article V.

Article V explains how the Constitution can be amended or changed by the Congress or, more importantly, by the states. The states can amend the Constitution by calling for a convention of the states. For this to happen, two-thirds of the states must pass a resolution calling for a convention. This resolution is designed to limit the scope of such a convention to address things like term limits, federal government overreach, and a balanced budget. It is not a 'Constitutional Convention' and is not intended to create a new Constitution.

You may have heard of an organization called Convention of States Action or COS. I support COS and I believe once you learn the facts, you will too. You may have also heard from groups that are attempting to suppress the rights of the states to have a convention. These groups will claim that such a convention would be overrun with special interest groups trying to steal your freedoms by rewriting the entire Constitution. The fear tactics they use do not stand up to scrutiny. The resources at https://conventionofstates.com/  will help you decide for yourself.

Most people are familiar with Congress drafting an amendment to the Constitution. Once they do so, the amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states. Can the political elite in Congress be trusted to do this in the interests of "We the People?" Will Congress ever pass a term limits amendment?

A convention of states can also draft an amendment. This process is not under the control of Congress and is not subject to a massive assault by high population states as each state gets only one vote. Once accepted by the delegates at the convention, the amendment still must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, same as if drafted by Congress.

A convention of states diminishes the authoritarian power of the federal government and returns it to the people. You can play an important role in making this happen by contacting the elected officials of your state's government and asking them to vote in favor of the Convention of States Action resolution. You can also make sure you support state candidates that will vote in favor of this resolution. Visit the Convention of States Action website at https://conventionofstates.com/  to educate yourself about this process. The website will also offer you the opportunity to volunteer for COS. Show Congress that "We the People" are still in control of America.

Dave Heckman
State Communications Coordinator
New Mexico Convention of States Action