SJ4 sought to invoke Article V of the U.S. Constitution to apply for an Article V constitutional convention to propose constitutional amendments imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government.
The Montana State Senate rejected SJ4 on March 27, 2025 by a vote of 23 to 27. We have assigned pluses to the nays because a so-called “Convention of the States” would not be limited in scope. The vague and inconsistent language in this resolution opens the door to what Article V of the U.S. Constitution describes as a “Convention for proposing Amendments”—effectively a second constitutional convention. Such a convention poses serious risks, as it could result in sweeping changes to the Constitution beyond the stated intent. Article V was intended to address structural issues within the federal government—not to rein in the misconduct of elected officials. Instead of risking unintended consequences through a convention, more effective and immediate remedies exist, such as congressional repeal of harmful amendments and state nullification of unconstitutional federal actions, which directly restore authority to the states and the people.