Constitutional Convention
A constitutional convention is a gathering that considers or proposes constitutional changes. Under Article V, Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments when the legislatures of two-thirds of the states apply; proposed amendments must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
A constitutional convention is a gathering that considers or proposes constitutional changes. Under Article V, Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments when the legislatures of two-thirds of the states apply; proposed amendments must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
Example: The Philadelphia Convention assembled in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, but its delegates instead redesigned the government and produced a new Constitution.
Common misconception: A convention’s proposal does not, by itself, amend the Constitution. Article V requires proposed amendments to be ratified by three-fourths of the states.