A growing political movement aims to rewrite the U.S. Constitution. Could NC be involved?

Recent media attention has put a spotlight on a political movement in favor of revising the U.S. Constitution and raised questions about the movement’s plans and potential impacts on the nation’s governing document.

The Constitutional Convention movement hopes to unite states to convene a never-before-seen “Convention of States” under Article V of the Constitution that would allow state legislatures to amend the constitution.

It’s a movement that’s picked up steam in recent years and has the backing of some prominent conservatives, Business Insider reported in a recent piece.

Here’s what to know about the contemporary Constitutional Convention movement and where it stands as of 2022:

What is an Article 5 Convention?

Article V of the U.S. Constitution includes multiple avenues for the amending of the constitution, according to the National Constitution Center.

All existing amendments have gone through the process of two-thirds of Congress approving the amendment then three quarters of states ratifying it.

“Article V does potentially provide a way for the states to bypass Congress, although it has never been used,” the National Constitution Center adds. “Article V says that ‘on the Application of two thirds of the Legislatures of the several States, [Congress] shall call a Convention for proposing amendments.’ The convention can propose amendments, whether Congress approves of them or not. Those proposed amendments would then be sent to the states for ratification. As with an amendment proposed by Congress, three-quarters of the states would have to ratify the amendment for it to become part of the Constitution.”

What is the Constitutional Convention movement?

The Constitutional Convention movement is an effort to get state legislatures to convene a Convention of States under Article V in order to amend the constitution without congressional input, according to the Convention of States Project.

Goals floated by the movement include a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on a variety of federal officials, a repeal of the 17th amendment and a limit on the size of the U.S. Supreme Court, according to the left-wing watchdog group the Center for Media and Democracy.

Organizations in support of the movement have hosted events for state legislators to learn more about the process, including the “Academy of States 3.0” held this summer.

The event — hosted by Path To Reform, the State Legislators Article V Caucus, and the Academy of States Coalition — was held “in anticipation of an imminent Article V Convention” and meant to “equip state legislators to draft delegate selection and oversight legislation, draft instructions for their delegates, and create a plan to support their delegation at the convention,” according to the event website.

Some prominent conservatives — including former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Fox News host Sean Hannity — have made comments in support of the movement, Business Insider reported.

Support for a Convention of States is not limited to the right-wing of politics, though.

Wolf PAC, founded in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and tied to left-wing activist Cenk Uygur, also advocates for states to convene a constitutional convention in order to pass a constitutional amendment reforming campaign finance laws.

How many states are calling for a Constitutional Convention?

Under Article V of the Constitution, two-thirds of the nation’s 50 states, 34, would have to pass resolutions in support of a Convention of States in order for one to be convened.

As of July 2022, Business Insider reports, 19 state legislatures have done so. Resolutions have “made progress” in six additional states, Business Insider found, and failed in 13 states in recent years.

Is North Carolina involved in the Constitutional Convention movement?

North Carolina is not one of the 19 states that’s reportedly passed a resolution in favor of convening a Convention of States.

But Business Insider does classify the Tar Heel State as one where a resolution has “made progress” in recent legislative sessions.

And the movement has succeeded in passing resolutions in neighboring states, including in South Carolina, which did so earlier this year.

“Some leaders foresee a ‘runaway’ convention which could propose amendments beyond the scope of the call. Others prefer that we depend on enlightened future electorates. I see it a little differently. I see the ever-increasing size and scope of the federal government as the larger threat,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster wrote in a statement at the time, the Associated Press reported.