JOINT RESOLUTION RESCINDING PREVIOUS ARTICLE V CONVENTION APPLICATIONS (Rescinds any prior applications to the United States Congress from the Rhode Island General Assembly to call for a convention to amend the United States Constitution.)

Plain-English Summary

This resolution would officially cancel any previous requests that Rhode Island's state legislature (the General Assembly) has ever sent to the U.S. Congress asking for a constitutional convention. Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, states have the power to apply to Congress to call a convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution — a process separate from the more common method where Congress itself proposes amendments. This resolution would withdraw Rhode Island from any such requests it may have made in the past.

The resolution is largely a procedural and symbolic action. If enough states (34 out of 50) apply to Congress for a constitutional convention on the same topic, Congress would be required to call one. By rescinding its prior applications, Rhode Island is signaling that it no longer wants to be counted among the states supporting such a convention. This resolution does not change any existing laws or affect the day-to-day lives of Rhode Islanders directly.

The people most affected by this resolution are those involved in debates about whether the United States should hold an Article V constitutional convention. Supporters of such conventions often seek goals like requiring a balanced federal budget or limiting federal power, while opponents worry that a convention could lead to broader, unpredictable changes to the Constitution. This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee.