Who Owns The US Constitution?

QUESTION: Who “owns” the US Constitution?
(This is a serious question with a definite answer, not a fluffy “Society” or “the American people” or ‘humanity” or “The Ages”)
ANSWER: The State Legislatures are the “Owners of Record” for the US Constitution. Not Congress. That’s why we have State Legislatures!

QUESTION: Who should decide how much political and economic power is held by the entrenched political class (i.e. career/lifetime politicians, lobbyists, civil service) in Washington D.C.?
A. The entrenched political class in Washington D.C.?
B. The American people via their State Legislatures.?
Ponder that for a minute.
The Constitution’s Article V confers several very special powers to its creator, the States, then thirteen, now fifty in number, in particular to their State Legislatures. The ONLY method of ratifying a Constitutional Amendment is through acceptance by the States – not Congress, not the President, not Governors, not the Courts. The Constitution also gives another power, indeed a treasured privilege, to these State Legislatures and that is the parallel power to draft and propose amendments independent of the US Congress. If you understand the political machinery in Washington D.C. you will realize that Congress will NEVER propose amendments which will curtail their power, such as a balanced budget and certainly never term limits.Suppose now that the US Congress sends to the States a proposed Amendment stripping this language from Article V? This would be an obvious assault on the States, correct? Essentially exhorting that “this is too awesome a power to be handled by you Boys and Girls at the State level! “ This proposal would be somewhat akin to erasing State boundaries and dissolving State Legislatures. The States would naturally be offended and alarmed at such a power grab. Yet, the US Congress need not even attempt this coup if the State Legislatures willingly surrender this power.
For a State legislator to forswear this power is, in essence, to accept that all power should reside in Washington DC and none in Albany, Sacramento, Austin, Denver, Juneau etc. and that the permanent political class in Washington DC will make all legal and policy decisions affecting every citizen’s life – from Florida to Alaska. It is easy to see this in action by examining the number of federal programs in education, transportation, agriculture, healthcare ( and now even restrooms !) and how funds are given or withheld based upon compliant behavior at the local level. Where do you suppose the federal government got those funds in the first place? And this power?

Here is another question for citizens to ponder: Who has more power to affect the trajectory for this nation ( Left or Right, Up or Down, to the stars or into the dumpster) ; a single elected State Representative from a middle-of-nowhere County or the entirety of the US Congress?
ANSWER: Only a member of a State Legislature can vote to ratify a Constitutional Amendment. No one in all of Washington DC has this power. So if an elected State legislator bemoans that
“Oh this is above my pay grade” or
“We need to elect the right candidates” ( it’s done 468~ times every 2 years)
“Who am I to go against the Founders” or
“This is heap-big-medicine” or
“It could become a runaway convention” or
“The other guys will use it to rescind the 1st or 2nd or 5th etc. Amendment”
Look them in the eye and say “It’s in your job description in the Constitution. Do your job!”If a State legislator wants all decisions made in Washington DC then why have a State Legislature?
Why would any State legislator, any citizen for that matter, surrender a power or Right given by the Constitution?
Go to www.conventionofstates.com to learn more and feel free to forward.
Contact your elected State Reps & Senators, let them hear you. Please.
Sincerely,
Greg Bishop
District Captain for www.conventionofstates.com

April 4, 2017

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