they not
a
In the classic novel
Through the Looking
Glass, by Lewis
Carroll, Humpty
Dumpty makes
the absurd claim,
“When I use a
word, it means just
what I choose it
to mean—neither
more nor less.”
In the real world,
fortunately, words have
established meanings.
There are many opinions on
how to safely call for an Article
V convention. Some say the
states must spell out proposed
amendments in advance, lest
the convention take too much
license. Others say the states
have no such power, but can
only propose topics for amend-
ments to consider. And there
are many other variations of
these ideas.
But nearly all agree on one
thing: Don't call it a consti-
tutional convention! Call ita
convention of states, an amend-
ments convention, an Article V
convention, etc.; but don’t let
anyone refer to it as a constitu-
tional convention!
Those who refuse to call it what
it is are picking a battle with the
dictionary, and are either being
intentionally deceptive, or are
themselves deceived.
According to the most widely
used legal dictionary in the
United States, Blacks Law
Dictionary, a constitutional
convention is: ‘A duly consti-
tuted assembly of delegates or
representatives of the people of a
state or nation for the purpose of
framing, revising OR amending
Convention promoters
battle the dictionary
Part six in a series by Robert Brown: January 1, 2015
its constitution.” (emphasis added)
An Article V convention for any
of those purposes is defined by
Blacks Law Dictionary as a con-
stitutional convention, and has
been for centuries,
Today, promoters of a conven-
tion are trying to change this
definition in order to sepa-
rate their movement from the
stigma of the defeated and
discredited constitutional
convention movement of the
‘70s and ‘80s. They claim, “I've
always been against a constitu-
tional convention. But this is
different!”
Be not deceived.
What they were promoting then
as a constitutional convention,
and what they promote now
under any name BUT con-
stitutional convention are, in
fact, the same thing ...A con-
vention for “framing, revising, or
amending its constitution”
Modern convention pro-
moters need to be honest.
about what they are promot-
ing. A constiutional conven-
tion by any other name is
just as dangerous.
About the aUthOE: Robert Brown is « popular speaker and producer of the 2013 DVD series
‘The Constitution isthe Solution, whichis availabe at wwwshop jbs.org