Invoking Article V using the First State
There's an interesting subcurrent of patriotism going on here.
It’s a subject that I’ve broached a couple times this year on monoblogue, but recently I attended a meeting of a group that’s trying to convince the state of Delaware to join the increasing number of states calling for an Article V convention.
In days of old I would have presented you with a blow-by-blow description of what went on, but now that I want to be a commentator rather than a reporter, I’m just going to give you a list of those things which were passed out to me at this meeting in the back room of a restaurant in Seaford. It’s worth mentioning those presenting had the rapt attention of about 20 people who attended.
A sign in sheet, which I filled out: so now the group has a little more information on me.
A copy of the Constitution, which is always handy. And timely: I misplaced my previous copy.
A word search puzzle, which I haven’t done yet.
A list of “go to links” for Convention of States.
An article about the top 10 reasons that a runaway convention is a myth.
A list of my local legislators.
A copy of Article V, and
A handout called “volunteer bingo,” which allowed you to detail things you’ve done or would be interested in. I might have a bingo or two on there.
A portion of the time we spent was watching a video on teaching the Constitution through a group called the Patriot Academy. I gather it’s a competing online version of a course done in person locally by the Institute on the Constitution; in either case, they’ll surely cover Article V.
As the meetings develop, it seems to me they will take two tracks: learning about the Constitution on one track, and getting people to volunteer for events that would be in the near future on the other. Since Delaware isn’t one of those states that has passed or even considered the Convention of States, the main thrust of the effort will be building public awareness and support.
I believe that, if you took a survey of the current Delaware General Assembly to gauge support for a Convention of States, you would have maybe 10 votes in the House and 5 votes in the Senate - of course, you need 21 House votes and 11 Senate votes to pass the bill, so we’re roughly halfway there in my estimation. I think we are at least two election cycles away from making a run at it but if you build public awareness that’s going to help.
The key numbers for this year are 4 Senate Republicans and 6 House Republicans. It would be something not done at the Senate level in at least 30 years - the largest partisan shift there has been three seats, three times (twice in consecutive elections); however, a six-seat House shift away from the GOP occurred in 2006, ending 24 years of Republican reign. 2006 was a brutal year for Republicans, much like 2022 is shaping up to be for the Democrats. (This is all per Ballotpedia.)
One thing that occurred to me as a possible selling point for state-level Democrats reluctant to see the Convention of States, though, is the idea that “imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limiting the terms for office for its officials and members of Congress” would leave a lot more room for experimentation on the state level - you know, Tenth Amendment and all that. After all, they’re more than happy to copy federal policy when the need suits them and there’s a threat to their status quo (witness the legislation developed when there were questions about overturning Obamacare and Roe v. Wade) so why not allow them a larger say without Uncle Sam breathing down their necks? If Delaware is such a liberal state, they shouldn’t have a problem with that freedom shifting to a state level, should they? (I didn’t say ALL Democrats, but if we can pick off a few in each chamber it’s worth the effort.)
I probably won’t make a lot of these meetings (unless they back off my small group night) but I’m glad to see there’s this much interest in the concept. As a relatively conservative county in a state and nation run by the Left, it’s getting to a point of any port in a storm and this is one way we can express our frustration.