Bill Overview
Title: To amend title 1, United States Code, to direct the Archivist of the United States to authenticate, count, and publish applications of States calling for a Convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States, to publish a certification when two-thirds of the States submit applications calling for such a Convention, and to notify Congress of the requirement under Article V of the Constitution to call such a Convention when such a certification is published, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill directs the National Archives and Records Administration to authenticate, count, and publish applications of states calling for a Convention for proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution, to publish a certification when two-thirds of the states submit applications calling for such a convention, and to notify Congress of that requirement when such a certification is published.
Sponsors: Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]
Target Audience
Population: People worldwide interested in U.S. legislative and constitutional changes
Estimated Size: 332000000
- A Convention for proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution can potentially impact all U.S. citizens as it may lead to changes in constitutional rights or structures.
- The bill outlines an administrative process for calling a convention, which is a procedural aspect of changing the Constitution, implying systemic impacts.
- Constitutional changes can affect governance, civil rights, and social policies, influencing the whole U.S. population.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects state governments and political representatives, so average citizens may not see direct impacts immediately.
- Constitutional changes can have significant trickle-down effects on everyday life, depending on the nature of any proposed amendments.
- Given the systemic nature of the potential changes, the overall well-being of individuals may not change drastically in the short term unless specific amendments are proposed that directly affect their lives.
- It's reasonable to expect a varied response based on political engagement, with those more politically active feeling a larger impact than those not.
- Budget constraints mean the policy primarily funds administrative tasks and not direct citizen outreach, so direct financial impacts are unlikely.
Simulated Interviews
State legislator (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy represents an important procedure for states to have a say in constitutional matters.
- Given the partisan nature of politics, I am skeptical about the likelihood of meaningful change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Tech worker (California)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this affects my day-to-day life.
- If it leads to better governance, I suppose that's a good thing, but I'm not convinced it will change much for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (Florida)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might once again bring constitutional changes to the forefront, which is necessary occasionally.
- It's essential for states to have this power recognized and utilized correctly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Lawyer specializing in constitutional law (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a critical part of ensuring our constitutional rights evolve with the times.
- Care must be taken to avoid knee-jerk changes that could affect fundamental rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 9 |
College student (Illinois)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is important for educational purposes and raising awareness about the constitutional amendment process.
- I hope it results in amendments that are beneficial to more progressive causes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Small business owner (Ohio)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how much time and money is spent on this when it could be used elsewhere.
- Unless it impacts taxes or economic policy directly, it's hard to see immediate benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
High school teacher (Georgia)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an excellent opportunity for educating young people about government processes.
- I hope it translates into real change in the educational system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Non-profit worker focused on social justice (Washington)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This has the potential to improve social justice if it leads to positive amendments.
- However, I'm cautious about the possibility of regressive changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Farmer (Arizona)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm more concerned with agriculture policies than constitutional changes.
- As long as it doesn't affect my farming operations, I remain indifferent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Stay-at-home parent (Virginia)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe constitutional changes could be necessary, but they need to prioritize family welfare and protection.
- Until specific issues come up, this seems more abstract than practical for everyday concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $3500000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 3: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 5: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 10: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Year 100: $1500000 (Low: $1200000, High: $1800000)
Key Considerations
- The procedural aspect of processing state applications could require additional administrative framework and staff.
- Uncertainty in the frequency of convention calls could necessitate flexible resource allocations.
- The policy does not directly change any constitutional rights but facilitates the calling of a convention, which may have broader social and political implications.