South Raleigh News

As the North Carolina legislature nears the commencement of its May legislative session, supporters of a movement to hold an Article V convention are making their voices heard.

House joint resolution 233, which is pending before the state Senate, would add North Carolina to the list of states calling for an Article V convention of states to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Supporters believe the measure will help reign in what they consider an "out-of-control" federal government, the Convention of States Action reported on its site.

"It's time the North Carolina Senate takes a stand to protect the liberties of the North Carolina citizens they are there to serve," Joy Ruhmann, North Carolina state director of the Convention of States Action, told South Raleigh News.

HJR 233 is moving through the North Carolina Legislature, the North Carolina General Assembly reported on its site.  In May 2021, it was successfully advanced out the House of Representatives and has been pending before the Senate since.         

Supporters of an Article V convention have been lobbying the state Senate for months, Bob Luddy, president of CaptiveAire, said in an opinion piece published by Old North News calling for the North Carolina Senate to pass HJR 233. Luddy said there is wide support among North Carolinians for the bill and to use a constitutional amendment to limit the federal government's power.

A resolution to hold an Article V convention has been passed in 19 states, over half of the necessary 34 to call a convention, the Convention of States Action reported. State legislatures in Wisconsin, Nebraska, West Virginia and South Carolina were the most recent to act, with all four passing the resolution earlier this year.

The resolution would only allow the Article V convention to consider constitutional amendments that would limit the strength, authority and spending power of the federal government, as well as create term limits for federal officials, the Convention of States Action reported.

The Convention of States Action is working toward an amending convention, not a constitutional convention, Convention of States Action co-founder Michael Farris said in a YouTube video. This is a significant difference because a constitutional convention seeks to completely rewrite the framework of government and deliver a new constitution, whereas an amending convention only offers particular amendments to the existing constitution.

An amendment must be approved by 38 states before becoming an official part of the Constitution, the Convention of States Action reported.