January 8, 2024
Your Action is Needed Now:
We need your help to defend our Constitution.
House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 693 and HCR 703 are up for a vote on the House floor on January 9th. These resolution bills claim to be seeking congressional term limits and a balanced federal budget, but really they are calling for a dangerous Article V Convention that could gut the U.S. Constitution.
Many leading conservative and progressive groups, scholars, economists, lawmakers, and policy experts rightly oppose a constitutional convention, because the unintended consequences of unraveling our nation’s fundamental freedoms. Special interests and those with designs to limit freedoms and protections, have their sights set on such a convention. The Constitution is a living document that has withstood the test of time - through wars, economic tumult, and social pressures. We need your help to defend our Constitution.
What is an Article V Convention?
Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is required to hold a constitutional convention if two-thirds of state legislatures (34 states) call for one. But here’s the catch: there are absolutely no rules for an Article V Convention outlined in the Constitution. That means the group of people convening to rewrite our Constitution could be totally unelected and unaccountable. There is nothing that could limit the convention to a single issue, so the delegates could write amendments that revoke any of our most cherished rights – like our right to peaceful protest, our freedom of religion, or our right to privacy. There are also no rules preventing corporations from pouring money into the convention to ensure they get their way.
Where does Florida stand?
Florida has already passed calls for an Article V convention in 2010, 2014 and 2016, so this is not a new issue in our state. It’s unclear why these calls are being re-upped now, but we suspect it is to fulfill promises to donors and to make the Florida legislation better match the wording that is currently being pushed in other states.
We're urging every Florida League member to contact their member of the Florida House encourage them to vote "NO" on House Concurrent Resolutions 693 & 703.
Email or call your Representative and ask they vote "NO" on HCR 693 & 703.
Want to go a step further? Consider contacting all of Florida's state representatives about your opposition to these pieces of legislation. Click here for a list of all House members contact information.
