Resolution to Preserve and Protect the U.S. Constitution and Oppose All Calls for an Article V Convention

Whereas, The United States Constitution has protected the fundamental rights of Americans for almost two and a half centuries and provided the foundation for the most peaceful, prosperous, and free nation in the world; 

Whereas, The establishment and preservation of the Constitution cost the best blood of previous centuries and is a sacred duty incumbent upon every American today; 

Whereas, The challenges identified by proponents of calling for an Article V convention stem from a failure to abide by the Constitution, NOT from a flaw in the Constitution itself;

Whereas, Proponents of an Article V convention advocate that such a convention will empower the states to rein in Congress, while the plain language of Article V empowers “Congress” to “call” a convention for proposing “amendments”, necessarily giving Congress a controlling role that supersedes that of the states;

Whereas, The Congressional Research Service and the actions of Congress clearly indicate an expectation that duties associated with “calling” a convention pursuant to Article V include making key decisions about the time and location of the convention, the selection, number and apportionment of delegates, and an expectation that Congress would fund the convention, which powers and duties constitute a substantial controlling influence over the make-up of a convention and the conditions under which a convention would take place; 

Whereas, Proponents of an Article V convention make unjustified claims of certainty that such a convention would provide “One state, one vote,” while most recent congressional proposals have suggested proportional representation– a proposal which would be devastating to smaller, conservative states; 

Whereas, Members of the radical left and states like California, who recently passed a resolution calling for an Article V convention in order to impose gun-control on the states, would  also have a seat and representation at any convention table;

Whereas, Assurance that any amendments proposed would require ratification by state legislatures is empty assurance, given Article V’s stipulation that “Congress” again retains a controlling role in the Article V ratification process, choosing the method of ratification, including, as an option, ratification by “conventions” in the various states, presumably organized at the direction of Congress;

Whereas, It is clear that the risks outweigh any supposed benefits of calling an Article V Convention. The state of Idaho took action in 1999 in SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 129 to repeal all previous calls for an Article V convention, which action included the following statement: “. . . former Justice of the United States of America Warren E. Burger, former Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Arthur J. Goldberg, and other leading constitutional scholars agree that such a convention may propose sweeping changes to the Constitution, any limitations or restrictions purportedly imposed by the states applying for such a convention or conventions to the contrary notwithstanding, thereby creating an imminent peril to the well-established rights of the citizens and the duties of various levels of government”; and 

Whereas, former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger concluded that there is no effective way to limit or muzzle the action of a Constitutional Convention after it is convened; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee preserve and protect the U.S Constitution by opposing all calls for an Article V convention;

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted by the KCRCC secretary to Idaho legislators in legislative districts 2, 3, 4, and 5, Governor Little, the Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, and Idaho’s U.S. Congressmen urging them to preserve and protect the U.S. Constitution by opposing all calls for an Article V convention; and 

Resolved, That this resolution be submitted to the IDGOP 2025 summer meeting.

Adopted by the KCRCC February 25, 2025