Milwaukee City Wire

Wisconsin passed the Convention of States Project resolution Jan. 25, making the Badger State the 16th state to join the call for an Article V convention.

In a Jan. 25 release from the Convention of States, project leaders congratulated the Wisconsin team who worked tirelessly to secure the recent victory. 

The Convention of States Resolution, known as Assembly Joint Resolution 9, passed the Wisconsin Senate 17-16. It had previously passed the State Assembly in May 2021 by a vote of 58-36. 

“Seven years of working tirelessly making calls, writing letters and building relationships with legislators paid off as the Wisconsin Convention of States team watched the 17 votes needed for passage go up on the board in the Wisconsin Senate,” Convention of States Regional Director Catherine Zemanek told the Milwaukee City Wire.

The resolution only allows a future Convention of States to consider Constitutional Amendments that would limit the "power and jurisdiction" of and impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, or those that would create term limits for federal officials. Thirty-four states must pass the resolution before the convention is called.

“With the leadership of sponsors Rep. Dan Knodl in the Assembly and Sen. Kathleen Bernier in the Senate, AJR 9 jumped the final hurdle. Wisconsin state legislators have proven they have the courage to lead and bring the power back to the people of their state,” Zemanek said.

According to a video on the Convention of States website, COS works for an amending convention, not a constitutional convention. This is a significant difference because a constitutional convention seeks to completely rewrite the framework of government and deliver a new constitution, whereas an amending convention only offers particular amendments to the existing constitution. 

These amendments must then be ratified by 38 states before becoming an official part of the Constitution.

“We are all looking forward to what is next for the Wisconsin grassroots team. It isn’t surprising that right after the vote I was receiving messages from members of the team asking how they can help pass the next state. Congratulations, Team Wisconsin,” Zemanek added.