JOINT RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A CONVENTION OF THE STATES UNDER ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION (Petitions congress to call a convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution to impose restraints on the federal government.)

Plain-English Summary

This is a joint resolution from the Rhode Island General Assembly asking Congress to call a special national meeting known as a "Convention of the States." Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, if two-thirds of state legislatures (34 out of 50 states) formally request it, Congress is required to call such a convention. The purpose of this particular convention would be to consider and propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution aimed at placing new limits or restrictions on the federal government.

The types of constitutional changes typically discussed in these kinds of conventions include things like requiring the federal government to balance its budget, limiting how long members of Congress can serve (term limits), and restricting the overall power or spending of the federal government. Importantly, any amendments proposed at such a convention would still need to be ratified by three-fourths of states (38 out of 50) before becoming part of the Constitution, meaning no changes would automatically take effect just from holding the convention.

This resolution affects all Americans in a broad sense, since it is part of a nationwide effort by multiple state legislatures to trigger a constitutional convention — something that has never happened since the original Constitutional Convention in 1787. Rhode Island joining this effort would count as one more state petition toward the 34-state threshold required. The bill is currently in early stages, having been referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee, where it has been postponed at the sponsor's request.