On September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States of America was signed into existence by 39 of the 55 delegates representing 12 of the then 13 states. Today, the original four-page document can be viewed at the National Archives Building in Washington, enclosed in glass and titanium and meticulously preserved in argon gas and a constant temperature of “67 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 40 percent.”
That’s a lot of effort for a document that might not be around too much longer.
There is a growing movement among Americans advocating for constitutional change. Our law allows for two ways to change the Constitution, as articulated in Article V of the Constitution:
“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress.”
In other words, there are two phases to amending the law governing the entire nation. First, an amendment must be officially proposed, either by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or a two-thirds majority of the state legislatures—that is, 34 states—which must request Congress to call a constitutional convention. Then, amendments can be proposed at that convention.
Second, the amendment proposed then needs to be approved, either by a three-fourths majority of the state legislatures—that is, 38 states—or by three-fourths of conventions specifically assembled for ratifying at the state level. Moreover, “Congress determines which method the states must follow in order for proposed amendments to become effective.”
In our history, 27 of 33 proposed amendments have been successfully ratified. This includes the Bill of Rights, comprised of the first 10 amendments. All 33 have been proposed using the first method, via the two houses of Congress. But, as seems to be the theme nowadays, something unprecedented could soon occur.
Convention of States
A recent Business Insider article spotlighted a nonprofit called Convention of States, which has been working for several years at the second method, getting state legislatures to apply to Congress to call a constitutional convention. If successful, it would be the first time ever that amendments would be proposed by the states. Not only that, but it would also be the first time that a constitutional convention would be called—since the one called in 1787 to pass the Constitution itself.
Convention of States boasts “millions of supporters nationwide” as well as “petition signers in every single state house district across America.” At the time of this writing, the organization’s effort has culminated in 19 states applying to Congress, four of them just this year.
According to the Convention of States website, the strength of a state-led constitutional convention is the power it returns to the American people instead of “unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.” The method is notable for allowing an amendment to be not only proposed but also ratified “without a governor’s signature, Congress’ intervention, or any input from the president.”
And interestingly, while reports have surfaced that the movement as a whole is strongly based in the Republican camp, others have noted that the desire for fundamental change actually transcends party lines. Business Insider reported that “both conservatives frustrated by unified Democratic control of Congress and progressives incensed with decisions from the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority” are advocating for this kind of deep-seated change.
“What we’re seeing now, that we haven’t really seen before, is people putting money into it [the movement],” said an administrator at nonpartisan group Common Cause.
There is an undeniable factor that consistently influences change: popular support. If the people want change, then there will be change.
Change Is Coming
Incidentally, there are others pushing for even more extreme exploration, based on the premise that the Constitution is, as
The New York Times put it, not “chiseled in stone.” Will we be witnesses to a “bloodless revolution” at their hands?
The Bible prophesies that this country, built on the freedom, hope, and rights of its people, will indeed change fundamentally (Revelation 13:11–17). This change will be rapid and irreparable. The Bible foretells that this beautiful experiment, from its humble beginnings to its role today as the most powerful nation in the world, will soon devolve into just another dystopia of terror, corruption, and murder (vv. 15–17).
Does this seem impossible or more likely every day? We’d like to offer this free presentation, “The USA in Bible Prophecy,” along with its corresponding lesson, to walk you through the future of our democratic republic and the crucial role it plays at the end of the world.
One day you may mourn for America. But know that there is a land of the free which will last for eternity, a heavenly country you can call home: “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27); “of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, … to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever” (Isaiah 9:7). There is an invitation waiting for you to God’s kingdom.