Wyoming Resolutions Calling For Convention Of The States Filed

A pair of joint resolutions have been filed in the Wyoming Legislature calling for a convention of the states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

Rep. Daniel Singh [R-Laramie County] is a co-sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 4, which along with Senate Joint Resolution 6 is one of the two measures pending before lawmakers this session. ''It's a built-in check on the federal government'' Singh said recently on the ''Weekend in Wyoming'' program on AM 650, KGAB. ''If you think the federal government is running unchecked, that is because we haven't unleashed the total power of the constitution."

Under Article V, two-thirds of the states would have to pass a resolution calling for a Convention of the States. The Wyoming resolutions call for the convention to deal with a possible balanced budget amendment and term limits for federal officials and members of Congress as well as reigning in the power of the federal government. Convention advocates argue that the federal government has far exceeded what was intended by the founding fathers.

A total of 34 states would be needed to pass such a resolution to meet the two-thirds majority needed. Singh says currently 19 states have done so.

Similar resolutions have been proposed in the Wyoming legislature over the years, but none have so far won final approval.

Arguments For And Against A Convention Of the States

One of the main arguments put forward by opponents of a Convention of the States is that there can be no guarantees that such a convention would follow the guidelines of the convention. For example, gun rights advocates worry that states such as California might lead the convention in going off-script and abolishing the Second Amendment.

But Singh calls that "a talking point. I don't think it's quite a valid concern.'' He says the rules of the convention would mandate that states stick to the agreed-upon topics. '' ''Nothing else would be discussed other than the agreed-upon topics,'' he says.

He points to a hypothetical scenario in which California, New York, and Hawaii tried to use a convention to abolish the Second Amendment. ''They would have to get 38 states to agree to such a thing. And that is impossible."

Here are the links to read House Joint Resolution 6 and Senate Joint Resolution 4.