ABSTRACT
Interest in the convention method of amendment arises from the effort to secure an amendment to require balancing the federal budget, by the convention route if necessary. Discussions at the constitutional convention in 1787 throw some light on the thinking of the framers concerning the amendments process. James Madison joined in the attack, raising prophetic questions about the role and operation of the amending convention. He "remarked on the vagueness of the terms, 'call a convention for the purpose,' as sufficient reason for reconsidering the article. The Senate failed to take action when the Dirksen threat faded. But in 1971 another convention proposal surfaced, as some nine state legislatures petitioned for a convention to propose a revenue-sharing amendment. If an amendment requiring budget balancing is desirable and wise public policy, it should be drafted and proposed by Congress in the manner by which the twenty-six amendments have been added to the Constitution.
