{"id":120674,"date":"2016-01-26T08:00:29","date_gmt":"2016-01-26T15:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=120674"},"modified":"2016-01-26T12:59:43","modified_gmt":"2016-01-26T19:59:43","slug":"just-seven-additional-states-needed-to-call-constitutional-convention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2016\/01\/just-seven-additional-states-needed-to-call-constitutional-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"Just seven additional states needed to call constitutional convention"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s only a short phrase buried in the U.S. Constitution, but it enables an unprecedented avenue to change the law of the land: If two-thirds of the states demand it, Congress \u201cshall call a convention<\/a>\u201d for proposing constitutional amendments.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

Heath Haussamen \/ NMPolitics.net<\/p>

New Mexico, whose state capitol building is shown here, is one of 27 states that have called for a convention on a balanced budget amendment, which would force the federal government to pass budgets that do not enlarge the national debt. This means that theoretically just seven more have to act for a constitutional convention to be called, at least on that subject.<\/p><\/div>\n

A hopeless pipe dream? Actually, no; the issue is front and center right now. Some 27 states have active calls\u00a0for a convention on\u00a0a balanced-budget amendment, which would force the federal government to pass budgets that do not enlarge the national debt. This means that theoretically just seven more have to act<\/a>\u00a0for a constitutional convention to be called, at least on that subject.<\/p>\n

In just the first few weeks of this year’s\u00a0state legislative sessions, at least 10 states\u00a0have bills pending that call\u00a0for\u00a0a convention. So suddenly such a meeting, not held since the earliest days of this country, is becoming a real possibility.<\/p>\n

Even GOP presidential candidates are seizing on the burgeoning movement, with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio<\/a>, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee<\/a> and Ohio Gov. John Kasich<\/a>\u00a0endorsing this unconventional process and rallying their supporters as legislative sessions start up again.<\/p>\n

While the legislation appears to be a grassroots effort<\/a> bubbling up from the states, in reality it\u2019s\u00a0quite the opposite<\/a>. National groups have been holding workshops, publishing tips and even crafting model legislation for years to persuade legislators to use their states to circumvent the logjam in Congress.<\/p>\n

The push is led by American Legislative Exchange Council<\/a>, the Virginia-headquartered conservative think tank known as ALEC made up of state lawmakers and corporations that advocate free-market policies in the states. It has a cadre of other like-minded national allies working on the controversial strategy to revise the country\u2019s supreme laws.<\/p>\n