State ratifying conventions

State ratifying conventions are one of the two ways established by Article Five of the United States Constitution for ratifying proposed constitutional amendments.[1] Ratifying conventions have only been used on one occasion.[2] This was in 1933 and was used to ratify the 21st Amendment.[2] All other proposed constitutional amendments have been offered to the state legislatures for ratification.

The Constitution also provides that state ratifying conventions may also be used to propose a constitutional amendment.[1] However, to date, none of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by state conventions.[1] A state ratifying convention may be called by a two-thirds vote by a state legislature.[3]

State Ratifying Conventions Media

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Constitutional Amendment ProcessThe National Archives. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Twenty-First AmendmentThe Free Dictionary/Farlex. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  3. Terence P. Jeffrey. Mark Levin: States Should Call Convention to Propose Amending Constitution (12 August 2013)CNS News. Retrieved 17 March 2016.