Reading Room Document

Scope of Power of Constitutional Convention to Propose Amendments to the Constitution

This document discusses the Constitutional Convention and the limitations of the power to propose amendments to the Constitution. It addresses the question of whether the Convention Clause authorizes a general or a limited convention process. The document concludes that the legislatures of the States are entitled to apply for specific amendments to the Constitution, and that the convention procedure is a flexible one that can be used for integrated, comprehensive revisions or for multiple amendments. The document also raises questions about how Congress responds to different applications for conventions and how it judges the legitimacy of the applications. It emphasizes the historical context of the Convention Clause and the intended role of the State legislatures in the amendment process.

October 10, 1979