Article V  Amendment  Applications  Tables

 


NOTE:  This data is being updated, because we have now found  643 (or more) Article V Amendment Applications (see images here) by all  50 states.
              Therefore, many of the totals below are larger and include a larger number of different states.

ISSUE #01:  While Article V contains no mention of any "contemporaneous" requirement, some have argued that amendments must be "contemporaneous" (i.e. occurring about the same time) before Congress must call an Article V Convention

REBUTTAL #01:  Once an amendment is provided to the states for ratification, Congress can set a time limit (typically 7 years) for amendment to be ratified by 3/4 of the states. However, the 27th Amendment was ratified after 203 years.  Beginning with the proposed 18th Amendment, Congress has customarily included a provision requiring ratification within 7 years from the time of the submission to the States.  The Supreme Court, in Coleman v. Miller, 307 U.S. 433 (1939), declared that the question of the reasonableness of the time within which a sufficient number of States must act to ratify an amendment is a political question to be determined by the Congress.

If  7 years is acceptable for ratification, then it seems reasonable that 7 years is acceptable for the expiration of proposed amendments.  If so, that condition has been satisfied at least twice (for the 7 years from 1963 to 1969, and from 1965 to 1971), as shown below in TABLE 06 and TABLE 07 (respectively).

Therefore, the question is:   Why has Congress not yet called an Article V Convention ?

Article V of  the U.S. ConstitutionThe 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; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight [1808] shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

REBUTTAL #02:  Another important point about whether the intended meaning of "whenever" in Article V (above) implies some sort of expiration time-limit was intended by the framers is weakened by the fact that the framers of Article V carefully specified an expiration time-limit within Article V for restrictions on amendments to the 1st and 4th clauses of the 9th section of the 1st Article prior to year 1808.  Therefore, if the framers intended for there to be an expiration time-limit on proposed amendments for other parts of the U.S. Constitution, how likely is it that they would so explicitly include restrictions on amendments to the 1st and 4th clauses of the 9th section of the 1st Article prior to year 1808, but forget to specify expiration time-limits for restrictions for future amendments to other parts of the U.S. Constitution?  

REBUTTAL #03:  Also, there is nothing in the Federalist papers that support the theory of any expiration time-limits.

REBUTTAL #04:  The Supreme Court, in Coleman v. Miller, 307 U.S. 433 (1939), declared that the question of the reasonableness of the time within which a sufficient number of States must act to ratify an amendment is a "political question" to be determined by the Congress.  However, there are no Supreme Court cases or statements supporting the "contemporaneousness" requirement for proposed amendments;  only for the ratification process.  That may possibly due to the word  "whenever" in Article V (above), and the other cases in which the Supreme Court has also dealt with cases in interpreting the Constitution (some which explicitly referred to Article V).  

However, if Coleman V. Miller is going to also be used as a requirement for "contemporaneousness" for the proposal of amendments, then why should the expiration time-limit for proposed amendments be less than the ratification time-limit (e.g. typically 7 years)?   Any argument for a shorter time limit for proposing amendments would clearly begin to appear as though Congress and/or the Supreme Court have a conflict of interest.  Especially when some proposed amendments are very likely to contain amendments for Term-Limits for Congress, Term-Limits for Supreme Court Justices, Balanced Budget, Campaign Finance Reform, Tax Reform, etc.  More obfuscation and obstructionism by Congress will most certainly begin to give credibility to the assertions that Congress and/or the Supreme Court are flagrantly violating the U.S. Constitution.


ISSUE #02:  While Article V contains no mention of a "same-subject" requirement, some have argued that amendments must be same-subject before Congress must call an Article V Convention. 

REBUTTAL #05:  As for the argument for a "same-subject" requirement, that condition has also been met at least twice, as show below in TABLE 03 and TABLE 04.  Since General calls for an Article V Convention do not specify any specific amendment subject, General calls can supplement any other amendment subject to satisfy requirements for Congress to call an Article V Convention (i.e. when requested by at least 2/3 of all states).

REBUTTAL #06:  The Supreme Court has also, many times, dealt with cases in interpreting the Constitution (some which explicitly referred to Article V).  There are some cases and statements by the Supreme Court that support the literal text of Article V as being consistent with the intended meaning of Article V.
 


 

TABLE 01:   567 Amendments by 49 States (sorted by Year and/or Sequence)
 

Subject = Subject of Amendment Application

SubjectTotal = Total Number of Amendment Applications of That Single Subject (e.g. 30 General requests)


 

Sequence Year State StateName SubjectTotal Subject CongressionalRecord  
1 1789 NY New York 33 General 1 Annals of Congress 248 (J Gales ed. 1789) G491  
2 1789 VA Virginia 33 General 1 Annals of Congress 248 (J Gales ed. 1789)   
3 1790 RI Rhode Island 33 General 1 Annals of Congress 1103 (J Gales ed. 1790)   
4 1899 TX Texas 33 General 33 Cong. Rec. 219 (1899)   
5 1899 TX Texas 33 General 33 Cong. Rec. 280 (1899)   
6 1901 AR Arkansas 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7113 (1910) (1901)   
7 1901 CO Colorado 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. 7113 (1910) (1901)  
8 1901 ID Idaho 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7114 (1910) (1901)   
9 1901 MI Michigan 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 117 (1901)   
10 1901 MN Minnesota 49 Direct election of senators 34 Cong. Rec. 2560 (1901)   
11 1901 MN Minnesota 49 Direct election of senators 34 Cong. Rec. 2615 (1901)   
12 1901 MN Minnesota 49 Direct election of senators 34 Cong. Rec. 2680 (1901)   
13 1901 MN Minnesota 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7116 (1910) (1901)   
14 1901 MT Montana 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 208 (1901)   
15 1901 NE Nebraska 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 1779 (1901)   
16 1901 NV Nevada 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 112 (1901)   
17 1901 OR Oregon 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 117 (1901)   
18 1901 PA Pennsylvania 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7118 (1910) (1901)   
19 1901 TN Tennessee 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 2344 (1901)   
20 1901 TN Tennessee 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 2707 (1902)   
21 1901 TX Texas 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. 7119 (1910) (1901)   
22 1902 KY Kentucky 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7115 (1910) (1902)   
23 1902 TN Tennessee 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 2344 (1902)   
24 1902 TN Tennessee 49 Direct election of senators 35 Cong. Rec. 2707 (1902)   
25 1903 IL Illinois 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. 7114 (1910) (1903)   
26 1903 NE Nebraska 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7116 (1910) (1903)   
27 1903 NV Nevada 49 Direct election of senators 37 Cong. Rec. 24 (1903)   
28 1903 NV Nevada 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7117 (1910) (1903)   
29 1903 OR Oregon 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7118 (1910) (1903)   
30 1903 UT Utah 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7119 (1910) (1903)   
31 1903 WA Washington 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. 7119 (1910) (1903)   
32 1903 WA Washington 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. 3035 (1911) (1903)   
33 1903 WI Wisconsin 49 Direct election of senators 37 Cong. Rec. 276 (1903)   
34 1904 IA Iowa 49 Direct election of senators 38 Cong. Rec. 4959 (1904)   
35 1905 MO Missouri 49 Direct election of senators 40 Cong. Rec. 138 (1905)   
36 1905 MT Montana 49 Direct election of senators 39 Cong. Rec. 2447 (1905)   
37 1905 TN Tennessee 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7118 (1905)   
38 1906 NY New York 20 Anti-polygamy 40 Cong. Rec. 4551 (1906)   
39 1907 DE Delaware 20 Anti-polygamy 41 Cong. Rec. 3011 (1907)   
40 1907 IL Illinois 49 Direct election of senators 42 Cong. Rec. 164 (1907)   
41 1907 IL Illinois 49 Direct election of senators 42 Cong. Rec. 359 (1907)   
42 1907 IN Indiana 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7114 (1910) (1907)   
43 1907 IA Iowa 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7114 (1910) (1907)   
44 1907 KS Kansas 33 General 41 Cong. Rec. 3072 (1907)   
45 1907 MO Missouri 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. 7116 (1910) (1907)   
46 1907 MT Montana 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7116 (1910) (1907)   
47 1907 NV Nevada 33 General 42 Cong. Rec. 163 (1907)   
48 1907 NJ New Jersey 49 Direct election of senators 42 Cong. Rec. 164 (1907)   
49 1907 NJ New Jersey 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7117 (1910) (1907)   
50 1907 NC North Carolina 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. (1910) (1907)   
51 1907 SD South Dakota 49 Direct election of senators 41 Cong. Rec. 2497 (1907)   
52 1907 SD South Dakota 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7118 (1910) (1907)   
53 1908 IA Iowa 49 Direct election of senators 42 Cong. Rec. 895 (1908)   
54 1908 KS Kansas 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. 7115 (1910) (1908)   
55 1908 MI Michigan 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7116 (1910) (1908)   
56 1908 NV Nevada 49 Direct election of senators 42 Cong. Rec. 895 (1908)   
57 1908 OK Oklahoma 33 General 42 Cong. Rec. 894 (1908)   
58 1908 OK Oklahoma 33 General 45 Cong. Rec. 7117 (1910) (1908)   
59 1908 WI Wisconsin 49 Direct election of senators 42 Cong. Rec. 895 (1908)   
60 1908 WI Wisconsin 49 Direct election of senators 45 Cong. Rec. 7119 (1910) (1908)   
61 1909 IA Iowa 33 General 44 Cong. Rec. 1620 (1909)   
62 1909 OR Oregon 49 Direct election of senators 43 Cong. Rec. 2025 (1909)   
63 1909 OR Oregon 49 Direct election of senators 43 Cong. Rec. 2065 (1909)   
64 1909 OR Oregon 49 Direct election of senators 43 Cong. Rec. 2071 (1909)   
65 1909 OR Oregon 49 Direct election of senators 43 Cong. Rec. 2115 (1909)   
66 1909 SD South Dakota 20 Anti-polygamy 43 Cong. Rec. 2670 (1909)   
67 1909 SD South Dakota 49 Direct election of senators 43 Cong. Rec. 2667 (1909)   
68 1909 WA Washington 20 Anti-polygamy 44 Cong. Rec. 127 (1909)   
69 1909 WA Washington 20 Anti-polygamy 44 Cong. Rec. 50 (1909)   
70 1910 WA Washington 20 Anti-polygamy 46 Cong. Rec. 651 (1911) (1910)   
71 1911 IL Illinois 20 Anti-polygamy 47 Cong. Rec. 1298 (1911)   
72 1911 ME Maine 49 Direct election of senators 46 Cong. Rec. 4280 (1911)   
73 1911 ME Maine 49 Direct election of senators 46 Cong. Rec. 4339 (1911)   
74 1911 MT Montana 20 Anti-polygamy 47 Cong. Rec. 98 (1911)   
75 1911 MT Montana 33 General 46 Cong. Rec. 2411 (1911)   
76 1911 NE Nebraska 20 Anti-polygamy 47 Cong. Rec. 99 (1911)   
77 1911 OH Ohio 20 Anti-polygamy 47 Cong. Rec. 661 (1911)   
78 1911 OH Ohio 20 Anti-polygamy 47 Cong. Rec. 85 (1911)   
79 1911 TN Tennessee 20 Anti-polygamy 47 Cong. Rec. 187 (1911)   
80 1911 WI Wisconsin 33 General 47 Cong. Rec. 1842 (1911)   
81 1911 WI Wisconsin 33 General 47 Cong. Rec. 1873 (1911)   
82 1911 WI Wisconsin 33 General 47 Cong. Rec. 2000 (1911)   
83 1911 WI Wisconsin 33 General 47 Cong. Rec. 2188 (1911)   
84 1911 WI Wisconsin 33 General 47 Cong. Rec. 3087 (1911)   
85 1912 VT Vermont 20 Anti-polygamy 49 Cong. Rec. 1433 (1913) (1912)   
86 1912 VT Vermont 20 Anti-polygamy 49 Cong. Rec. 2464 (1913) (1912)   
87 1913 IL Illinois 20 Anti-polygamy 50 Cong. Rec. 120 (1913)   
88 1913 MI Michigan 20 Anti-polygamy 50 Cong. Rec. 2290 (1913)   
89 1913 MO Missouri 2 Judicial review of statutes 50 Cong. Rec. 1796 (1913)   
90 1913 MO Missouri 2 Judicial review of statutes 50 Cong. Rec. 2428 (1913)   
91 1913 OR Oregon 20 Anti-polygamy 49 Cong. Rec. 2463 (1913)   
92 1913 WI Wisconsin 20 Anti-polygamy 50 Cong. Rec. 116 (1913)   
93 1913 WI Wisconsin 20 Anti-polygamy 50 Cong. Rec. 42 (1913)   
94 1916 SC South Carolina 20 Anti-polygamy 53 Cong. Rec. 2442 (1916)   
95 1925 NV Nevada 5 Repeal of prohibition 67 Cong. Rec. 456 (1925)   
96 1927 ID Idaho 5 Taxation of debts 69 Cong. Rec. 455 (1927)   
97 1929 WI Wisconsin 33 General 71 Cong. Rec. 2590 (1929)   
98 1929 WI Wisconsin 33 General 71 Cong. Rec. 3369 (1929)   
99 1929 WI Wisconsin 33 General 71 Cong. Rec. 3856 (1929)   
100 1931 MA Massachusetts 5 Repeal of prohibition 75 Cong. Rec. 45 (1931)   
101 1931 NY New York 5 Repeal of prohibition 75 Cong. Rec. 48 (1931)   
102 1931 WI Wisconsin 5 Repeal of prohibition 75 Cong. Rec. 57 (1931)   
103 1932 NJ New Jersey 5 Repeal of prohibition 75 Cong. Rec. 3299 (1932)   
104 1935 CA California 1 Taxation of securities 79 Cong. Rec. 10814 (1935)   
105 1935 CA California 1 Wage/hours regulation 79 Cong. Rec. 10814 (1935)   
106 1939 MD Maryland 47 Limited taxation 84 Cong. Rec. 3320 (1939)   
107 1939 OR Oregon 1 National Recovery Plan 84 Cong. Rec. 985 (1939)   
108 1939 WY Wyoming 47 Limited taxation 84 Cong. Rec. 2509 (1939)   
109 1940 RI Rhode Island 47 Limited taxation 86 Cong. Rec. 3407 (1940)   
110 1940 RI Rhode Island 47 Limited taxation 86 Cong. Rec. 3439 (1940)   
111 1941 IA Iowa 47 Limited taxation 87 Cong. Rec. 1729 (1941)   
112 1941 IA Iowa 47 Limited taxation 87 Cong. Rec. 3172 (1941)   
113 1941 MI Michigan 47 Limited taxation 87 Cong. Rec. 4537 (1941)   
114 1941 MI Michigan 47 Limited taxation 87 Cong. Rec. 8904 (1941)   
115 1943 AL Alabama 47 Limited taxation 89 Cong. Rec. 7523 (1943)   
116 1943 DE Delaware 47 Limited taxation 89 Cong. Rec. 4017 (1943)   
117 1943 FL Florida 9 World government 89 Cong. Rec. 5690 (1943)   
118 1943 IA Iowa 5 Limited presidential term 89 Cong. Rec. 2516 (1943)   
119 1943 IA Iowa 5 Limited presidential term 89 Cong. Rec. 2728 (1943)   
120 1943 MI Michigan 5 Limited presidential term 89 Cong. Rec. 2944 (1943)   
121 1943 NH New Hampshire 47 Limited taxation 89 Cong. Rec. 3761 (1943)   
122 1943 PA Pennsylvania 47 Limited taxation 89 Cong. Rec. 8220 (1943)   
123 1943 PA Pennsylvania 1 Unconditional public funds 89 Cong. Rec. 8220 (1943)   
124 1943 WI Wisconsin 5 Limited presidential term 89 Cong. Rec. 7525 (1943)   
125 1943 WI Wisconsin 47 Limited taxation 89 Cong. Rec. 7524 (1943)   
126 1949 CA California 9 World government 95 Cong. Rec. 4568 (1949)   
127 1949 CT Connecticut 9 World government 95 Cong. Rec. 7686 (1949)   
128 1949 CT Connecticut 9 World government 95 Cong. Rec. 7689 (1949)   
129 1949 CT Connecticut 9 World government 95 Cong. Rec. 8285 (1949)   
130 1949 FL Florida 9 World government 95 Cong. Rec. 6586 (1949)   
131 1949 FL Florida 9 World government 95 Cong. Rec. 7000 (1949)   
132 1949 MI Michigan 47 Limited taxation 95 Cong. Rec. 5628 (1949)   
133 1949 NJ New Jersey 9 World government 95 Cong. Rec. 4571 (1949)   
134 1949 NC North Carolina 9 World government 95 Cong. Rec. 6587 (1949)   
135 1951 FL Florida 47 Limited taxation 97 Cong. Rec. 5155 (1951)   
136 1951 IA Iowa 47 Limited taxation 97 Cong. Rec. 3939 (1951)   
137 1951 KS Kansas 47 Limited taxation 97 Cong. Rec. 2936 (1951)   
138 1951 ME Maine 47 Limited taxation 97 Cong. Rec. 6033 (1951)   
139 1951 NH New Hampshire 47 Limited taxation 97 Cong. Rec. 10716 (1951)   
141 1952 AR Arkansas 47 Limited taxation 98 Cong. Rec. 742 (1952)   
142 1952 CA California 1 Taxes on vehicles and fuel 98 Cong. Rec. 4003 (1952)   
143 1952 GA Georgia 47 Limited taxation 98 Cong. Rec. 1057 (1952)   
144 1952 GA Georgia 47 Limited taxation 98 Cong. Rec. 1225 (1952)   
145 1952 GA Georgia 2 Treaty powers 98 Cong. Rec. 1057 (1952)   
146 1952 GA Georgia 2 Treaty powers 98 Cong. Rec. 1225 (1952)   
147 1952 IN