Gov. Abbott calls for Convention of States, offers amendments to U.S. Constitution

At Texas Public Policy gathering, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called for a Convention of States to pass nine amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It's part of Abbott's Texas Plan to "restore the Rule of Law and return the Constitution to its intended purpose."

The plan offers nine amendments to rein in the federal government and restore the balance of power between the States and the United States. The amendments are:

  1. Prohibit Congress from regulating activity that occurs wholly within one State.
  2. Require Congress to balance its budget.
  3. Prohibit administrative agencies—and the unelected bureaucrats that staff them—from creating federal law.
  4. Prohibit administrative agencies—and the unelected bureaucrats that staff them—from preempting state law.
  5. Allow a two-thirds majority of the States to override a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
  6. Require a seven-justice super-majority vote for U.S. Supreme Court decisions that invalidate a democratically enacted law.
  7. Restore the balance of power between the federal and state governments by limiting the former to the powers expressly delegated to it in the Constitution.
  8. Give state officials the power to sue in federal court when federal officials overstep their bounds.
  9.  Allow a two-thirds majority of the States to override a federal law or regulation.

To view the full plan you can go here (pdf).

You can read a press release from Gov. Abbott here.