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Bill

HC 36

Article V Convention; provide for selection and authority of commissioners.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dan Eubanks

Establishes Mississippi procedures for selecting commissioners to participate in a U.S. Constitutional Convention called under Article V of the Constitution.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HC 36

Legislative bill overview

HC 36 would establish a process for Mississippi to select and authorize commissioners to participate in an Article V Convention of the States—a constitutional convention called by state legislatures rather than Congress. The bill sets procedures for how these commissioners would be chosen and defines their powers and limitations in representing Mississippi at such a convention.

Why is this important

An Article V Convention is an extremely rare mechanism that could potentially amend the U.S. Constitution without Congressional involvement. If enough states call for one on the same topic, it becomes binding. This bill addresses the practical mechanics of how Mississippi would participate in such a historic event, which has never occurred in U.S. history.

Potential points of contention

  • Constitutional uncertainty: Legal experts disagree on whether an Article V Convention could be limited to a single topic or if it could become a "runaway convention" that rewrites the entire Constitution
  • State sovereignty vs. federal authority: Questions about whether individual states should have this power and how federal courts would oversee such a convention
  • Partisan implications: Article V Convention efforts have been championed by different groups across the political spectrum for different purposes (balanced budget amendments, campaign finance reform, etc.), making the bill politically polarizing

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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