RESCINDING PREVIOUS ARTICLE V CONVENTION APPLICATIONS
Summary
H7792 is a joint resolution that would formally withdraw Rhode Island’s prior applications to the U.S. Congress requesting an Article V convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The resolution states that the General Assembly no longer wishes Congress to consider any earlier convention applications, whether they were limited to specific subjects or broad enough to allow an unlimited convention. It also applies this rescission to applications regardless of when they were adopted and whether they are expressly identified in the resolution or only reflected in legislative or Library of Congress records.
The resolution directs that copies be sent to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Secretary of the U.S. Senate, and Rhode Island’s congressional delegation within 30 days of passage. It further asks that the resolution be published in the Congressional Record and included in the official tally of state legislative applications related to an Article V convention. In practical terms, the measure is a formal legislative statement intended to revoke Rhode Island’s prior support for convening a constitutional convention under Article V.
Impact
If adopted, the resolution would not change Rhode Island statutes, but it would alter the state’s official position on prior Article V convention applications and notify Congress that those applications are rescinded. The measure affects the state’s historical record of constitutional convention requests and could influence how Rhode Island is counted in any national tally of active state applications for an Article V convention. Its direct legal effect is limited to legislative and intergovernmental communication rather than substantive state law.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available context suggests the resolution is presented in a straightforward, procedural manner with no documented opposition or debate in the materials provided. The sponsors appear to support formally ending Rhode Island’s prior convention applications, and the bill’s language is emphatic and comprehensive in doing so. Because no vote history or transcripts are available, there is no evidence in the record provided of divided sentiment or organized opposition.
Contention
The main point of contention inherent in the resolution is the broader Article V convention issue: whether Rhode Island should continue to be associated with prior applications to Congress for a constitutional convention. Supporters of rescission would likely favor removing any possibility that old applications could be counted toward convening a convention, while opponents of rescission could view the action as unnecessary or as weakening a tool for constitutional reform. The bill’s broad language—rescinding all prior applications, whether limited or general, identified or only historically recorded—suggests an intent to eliminate ambiguity, which may be significant to those concerned about how convention applications are interpreted nationally.