H3888 • 2025

Resolutions calling on Article V of the United States Constitution for the convening of a convention of the states

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Steven George Xiarhos
Last action: 2026-05-14
Official status: Accompanied a study order, see H5422 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a suggestion that the convention should focus on specific issues, which is not explicitly stated in the official bill text. The official summary does not provide details about the content of the proposed amendments beyond fiscal restraints and limiting federal power.

Calling for a Convention of States

This resolution asks Congress to call a convention of states to propose constitutional amendments that limit federal government power and spending.

What This Bill Does

Asks Congress to start the Article V process, which allows states to propose constitutional amendments.
Suggests focusing on limiting federal government power and spending through this convention.
Directs the Secretary of State to send copies of this request to key figures in U.S. and state governments.

Who It Names or Affects

The U.S. Congress
State legislatures across the country
Federal officials

Terms To Know

Convention of States: A meeting where states come together to propose changes to the Constitution.
Article V: The part of the U.S. Constitution that explains how to change it.

Limits and Unknowns

It's not clear if other states will join in asking for this convention.
There are no specific dates set for when this might happen.

Bill History

2026-05-14 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5422 (under House Rule 27)
2025-11-13 Joint
Hearing rescheduled to 11/13/2025 from 01:00 PM-03:50 PM in B-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
2025-11-03 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 11/13/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred
House
Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

Resolutions calling on Article V of the United States Constitution for the convening of a convention of the states
By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by resolutions, House, No. 3888) of Steven George Xiarhos, Joseph D. McKenna and David T. Vieira for the adoption of resolutions memorializing the Congress of the United States to convene a Constitutional Convention. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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Bill H.3888

WHEREAS, Executive Orders by the President of the United States have become a vehicle through which the President may overstep the limits of his constitutional authority; and

WHEREAS, the concentration of power at the federal level has had the effect of making federal officials less responsive to the will of the people and more readily influenced by lobbyists, wealthy corporations, and special interests in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, much of federal law is now enacted by federal bureaucrats who were never chosen by the people and have no accountability to the people whatsoever; and

WHEREAS, policy decisions made at the state level tend to be more responsive to the needs and desires of the people; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has created a crushing national debt through improper and imprudent spending; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has invaded the legitimate roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent; and

WHEREAS, the States have the ability to restore the responsiveness of government to the people and to restrain abuses of federal power by proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a limited Convention of States under Article V;

Be it therefore resolved by the legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

SECTION 1. That the legislature of the State of Massachusetts hereby applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress;

SECTION 2. The Secretary of State is hereby directed to transmit copies of this application to the President and Secretary of the United States Senate and to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives from this State; also to transmit copies hereof to the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several States, requesting their cooperation;

SECTION 3. This application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the several states have made applications on the same subject.

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