Stopping An Article V Convention
Wealthy special interests are pushing for a constitutional convention that could put all of our rights up for grabs. Common Cause is fighting back.
Mega-donors, corporations, and radical far-right actors are pushing calls for an Article V Convention in states across the country to rewrite the U.S. Constitution for their own benefit. Frighteningly, they are just a few states away from succeeding.
Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is required to hold a constitutional convention if two-thirds of state legislatures (34 states) call for one. But there is a catch: there are absolutely no rules for an Article V Convention outlined in the Constitution. That means the group of people convening to revise our country’s core legal document could be totally unelected and unaccountable. There is no way to limit the convention to a single issue, so the delegates could write amendments that revoke any of our most cherished rights—like our right to peaceful protest, our freedom of religion, or our right to privacy.
Right now, there are four major campaigns for an Article V Convention, and each has a different set of goals. But together, they have convinced 28 states to call for a convention. That means they have just six states to go—which is why we are stopping an Article V Convention by ramping up our efforts to reject and rescind calls in states nationwide.
What We’re Doing
Stopping a Dangerous Article V Convention
Wealthy special interests are pushing for a constitutional convention that could put everyone in America’s rights up for grabs. It's on us to stop them.
Take Action
Petition
REJECT and RESCIND any calls for an Article V Convention
We the People will not allow unelected, unaccountable delegates to write their agenda into our Constitution. Our state lawmakers must reject any new Article V Convention calls and rescind any existing calls for a Convention.
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Updates
Blog Post
Article V Unveiled: Safeguarding Democracy with Common Cause
Blog Post
Advancing Democracy In The States: 3 Big Wins!
Blog Post
Article V Proponent Mark Meckler Takes Over as Right-Wing Media CEO
Related Resources
Report
Constitutional Chaos The Shadow Campaigns Aiming to Unravel Our Freedom
This report exposes the dangerous efforts by secretive, well-funded special interest groups to push state legislatures around the nation to call for a constitutional convention through a little-known provision in Article V of the U.S. Constitution.
Report
U.S. Constitution Threatened as Article V Convention Movement Nears Success
A Common Cause Background Memo
Position Paper
Coalition Statement Opposing An Article V Convention
Calling a new constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution is a threat to every American’s constitutional rights and civil liberties.
Report
The Dangerous Path: Big Money’s Plan to Shred the Constitution
Press
News Clip
Lincoln Journal Star (Op-Ed): Honoring a compromise
If the 2024 session is to be a new leaf as Speaker Arch pleaded, then Sen. Halloran needs to honor his agreement. Any attempts to pass an Article V resolution should be shelved until 2027. Keeping promises and compromises for their full term would indeed be a “model” for other state legislatures.
News Clip
Public News Service: Voting rights groups call constitutional convention efforts a threat to democracy
Geoff Foster, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, said there are no rules in the Constitution for how to govern a convention and no guarantee, even the First Amendment, would be safe.
"There's great risk and great potential harm to everything already enshrined in our Constitution if we do open up this Pandora's box," Foster cautioned.
Foster pointed out a convention could potentially allow unelected delegates and special-interest groups to enshrine their agenda into a founding document.
"There's great risk and great potential harm to everything already enshrined in our Constitution if we do open up this Pandora's box," Foster cautioned.
Foster pointed out a convention could potentially allow unelected delegates and special-interest groups to enshrine their agenda into a founding document.
News Clip
Orlando Sentinel/Sun Sentinel (Editorial): The Legislature’s con-con con job
The citizens’ lobby Common Cause calls the nationwide movement for a convention “the most serious threat to our democracy, flying almost completely under the radar.”
What can you do? Sign Common Cause’s online petition opposing an Article V convention. Track how your legislator votes on these bad bills. Then vote against anybody who thinks this is a good idea.
What can you do? Sign Common Cause’s online petition opposing an Article V convention. Track how your legislator votes on these bad bills. Then vote against anybody who thinks this is a good idea.