State Representative Lipper-Garabedian Joins Legislature to Vote to Protect Integrity of the U.S. Constitution

Rescission prevents outdated petitions from being used to justify a national Constitutional Convention

(BOSTON—11/19/2025) Today, State Representative Lipper-Garabedian joined the Massachusetts Legislature to pass joint resolutions H.4692 and S.2684 which rescind all previous applications for a national Constitutional Convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. This joint initiative is in response to concerns that Congress and the Trump Administration could attempt to use prior Massachusetts resolutions to call for an Article V Constitutional Convention to advance their own political agenda, moves that could have broad and sweeping implications on current protections under the U.S. Constitution.

“Given the absence of precedent for an Article V Convention of the states, there is no reliable way to limit its agenda to specific topics, creating opportunities for private, powerful interests to weaken governmental safeguards,” said State Representative Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose). “The Trump Administration has shown a willingness to go to any length to undermine our democratic values and advance its agenda. By joining the Legislature today to rescind all previous applications for an Article V Convention, Massachusetts will not be a tool that the Trump administration can use to promote an agenda that threatens our civil rights and liberties. Thank you to Speaker Mariano and Leader Peisch for your leadership on this vital resolution.” 

“As President Trump and Congressional Republicans continue to use every lever of government to roll back basic rights and halt progress on critical issues, this preventative measure will ensure that outdated Article V resolutions that were passed generations ago in Massachusetts cannot be used by Republicans to advance their own political agenda,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Leader Peisch and my colleagues in the House, as well as Senate President Spilka and our partners in the Senate, for recognizing the need for this measure.”

“I would like to thank the Speaker for his support and leadership in bringing this resolution to the House floor. Given the uncertainty surrounding an Article V convention, such a process could present a serious threat to the U.S. Constitution, our democracy, and the civil rights and liberties that are the foundation of our nation,” said House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Hanlon Peisch (D-Wellesley), sponsor of the House resolutions. “Today, we come together in defense of the U.S. Constitution, a document that for more than two centuries has guided our nation, safeguarded our freedoms, and provided the framework for our democracy.”

The Legislature’s action makes Massachusetts the 17th state to rescind all prior applications for an Article V convention, and reaffirms that any constitutional decisions should reflect the will of today’s elected lawmakers and the people they represent.

An Article V convention is a process outlined in the U.S. Constitution allowing states to propose amendments if two-thirds (34) of state legislatures call for it. An Article V convention could open the entire Constitution to unpredictable changes, as there are no clear guidelines or limitations on what delegates could propose. While an Article V convention has never been called before in American history, there is recent conservative momentum to add up all active resolutions to meet the two-thirds threshold.

Massachusetts had several outdated Article V resolutions pending before Congress, including one sent in 1977 asking for an Article V convention to constitutionally ban abortions. These dormant calls have been cited in national legal strategies pushing for a convention, arguing they could still be considered active and contribute to the 34-state count. Sixteen states have already taken action to rescind all of their previous calls.

Both chambers of the Legislature voted to approve the resolutions, and the House and Senate Clerks will transmit copies of the resolutions to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and to the Secretary of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C.

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