Lansing Sun

The Michigan Convention of States (COS) will be holding a rally in Lansing on Thursday, June 10 to support House Joint Resolution E (HJR E).

According to the group's website, the gathering will be one of the "largest patriotic rallies ever held in Lansing." Speakers will include Citizens for Self-Governance CEO and COS President Mark Meckler and Steve Deace, a radio host on BlazeTV and Westwood One.

The rally will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the front lawn of the capital building at 100 N. Capital Ave. Parking information can be found on the website. 

HJR E proposes calling a convention to propose amendments the U.S. Constitution regarding imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limiting the terms of office for federal government officials and members of Congress.

"We are a grassroots army of patriots dedicated to educating the citizens of our state on Article V of the Constitution for the purpose of restoring self-governance to the people," the COS states on its website. "A grassroots organization dedicated to calling into action Article V of the Convention of states."

Article V of the U.S. Constitution gives states the power to call a Convention of States to propose amendments, according to the COS site. It takes 34 states to call the convention and 38 to ratify any amendments that are proposed. 

"Our convention would only allow the states to discuss amendments that limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints and place term limits on federal officials," the COS website states.

The website said the organization is calling to create a full COS "to bring power back to the states and the people, where it belongs.

"Washington, D.C. will never voluntarily relinquish power, no matter who is elected," the group states online. "It is time for American citizens to take a stand against tyranny and make a legitimate coordinated nationwide effort to curb the power of the federal government. Only a Convention of States has the constitutional power to repair the damage and halt the federal government from eroding the liberties of the sovereign citizens further."

The COS claims to work for an amending convention rather than a constitutional convention, advocating work to amend the constitution as it exists and not rewrite it. With millions of supporters, the COS has already passed the resolution in 15 states.