HB3625 withdraws all applications for “an amendment convention” under Article V of the U.S. Constitution that were previously made by the Legislative Assembly and declares them “null and void.
The Senate passed HB3635 on June 24, 2023, by a vote of 25 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because efforts to call an Article V convention should be resisted. Instead of failing to uphold their oath of office and risking a constitutional convention, legislators in Oregon and the rest of the several States should “support and defend the Constitution,” as required under Article VI, Clauses 2 and 3, by acting to immediately nullify all unconstitutional federal laws. Whenever the federal government assumes undelegated powers, in blatant violation of the 10th Amendment, nullification of such acts is the proper remedy. Article V of the Constitution was designed to correct potential errors or defects in the Constitution, not to misconstrue or abuse its powers. The States can and must use Article VI to enforce the Constitution, rather than use Article V to change it.