By The Craig Bushon Show Media Team
The American people are waking up. The growing chorus calling for an Article V Convention of States isn’t a fringe idea—it’s a constitutional necessity. And at the heart of this movement is something many Americans don’t even realize is under siege: the Fourth Amendment.
Let’s start with what the Fourth Amendment actually says:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…”
In plain terms, it’s a guardrail—one of the most vital protections the Founders gave us. It ensures that the government can’t arbitrarily invade your life, your home, your privacy, or your data without a warrant supported by probable cause.
But here’s the problem: that guardrail is crumbling.
Decades of federal overreach, bloated bureaucracies, and unchecked surveillance have turned the Fourth Amendment from a constitutional promise into a paper shield. The rise of the administrative state—agencies that answer to no voter—has bypassed Congress and ignored the Constitution. Whether it’s the NSA collecting your phone data, the IRS targeting political groups, or federal agencies monitoring bank transactions without warrants, Washington has become addicted to power, and the Fourth Amendment has paid the price.
This is why 19 states that have already signed it are leading the charge—and why other states must follow.
An Article V Convention, as outlined in the Constitution itself, is not radical. It’s not rebellion. It’s the safety valve the Founders gave us for exactly this moment. When Washington becomes too large, too unaccountable, and too arrogant to reform itself, the states—the true sovereign bodies of this Union—have the power to act.
And here’s what that action looks like:
-
Rein in the Surveillance State: A Convention can propose amendments to reassert the original intent of the Fourth Amendment, ensuring that Americans’ digital lives are as protected as their physical homes. No more backdoor spying under the guise of “national security.” No more secret FISA courts rubber-stamping blanket surveillance.
-
Shrink the Federal Bureaucracy: By limiting the size and scope of the federal government, the Convention can dismantle the unelected administrative apparatus that bypasses constitutional checks. This returns power to the people, where it belongs.
-
Impose Term Limits: No more career politicians feeding off the system while our freedoms erode. Term limits would restore the citizen-legislator model the Founders envisioned and weaken the deep-state entrenchment that thrives on perpetual incumbency.
-
Enforce Fiscal Restraint: An out-of-control federal budget fuels the surveillance infrastructure and bloated bureaucracies that violate our rights. Imposing fiscal discipline through constitutional amendments is not just economic—it’s a matter of liberty.
The “Runaway Convention” Myth—Debunked
Critics often warn of a so-called “runaway convention,” imagining a scenario where delegates scrap the Constitution and rewrite it entirely. This fear is not only unfounded—it’s constitutionally impossible.
Here’s the facts:
-
The Convention Is Bound by Its Application
Under Article V, states must submit identical or closely worded applications on specific topics (e.g., term limits, spending limits, scope of power) for a convention to be called. The subject matter is locked in. Delegates are legally and politically bound to stay on topic. -
One Vote Per State
At a convention, each state delegation gets one vote, regardless of size. That means California has the same voting power as Tennessee. This ensures equal representation and keeps radical proposals in check. -
It Only Proposes—Not Enacts
Even if the convention proposes an amendment, it must be ratified by 38 out of 50 state legislatures. That’s a 75% supermajority. No radical idea could ever meet that threshold. -
Modern Legal Safeguards
Unlike in 1787, today’s Convention would be subject to modern transparency laws, judicial oversight, state-imposed delegate restrictions, and live media coverage. Most states have already passed laws requiring their delegates to stay within strict limits—or be recalled and replaced. -
Historical Precedent: The 1787 Convention Wasn’t a Threat—It Was a Blueprint
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 is often misunderstood. It didn’t “run away”—it was guided by national consensus that the Articles of Confederation were unworkable. The new Constitution was ratified through state conventions, not imposed from above. If anything, it proved the genius of states acting together to correct a failing central government. Today’s Article V Convention would operate under far tighter legal and procedural guardrails, making it even more secure.
The States That Have Already Joined the Fight
As of mid-2025, 19 states have passed the Convention of States resolution calling for an Article V Convention to propose amendments that limit federal power, impose fiscal restraint, and establish term limits:
-
Georgia
-
Alaska
-
Florida
-
Alabama
-
Tennessee
-
Indiana
-
Oklahoma
-
Louisiana
-
Arizona
-
North Dakota
-
Texas
-
Missouri
-
Arkansas
-
Utah
-
Mississippi
-
West Virginia
-
Nebraska
-
South Carolina
-
Wisconsin
That’s more than halfway to the 34-state threshold needed to force Congress to call the convention. Dozens more states are considering legislation now.
The Real Risk Is Doing Nothing
Let’s be honest: Washington won’t fix itself. Congress won’t impose limits on its own power. Federal agencies will never voluntarily shrink their size, budgets, or databases. The courts won’t enforce boundaries that the political branches refuse to honor.
That leaves We the People, acting through our states, with the only tool left: Article V.
The Fourth Amendment was never meant to be a suggestion. It was a shield forged in the fires of tyranny. The Convention of States is our opportunity to repair it—and to restore the balance between the governed and the governing.
It’s time to stop hoping Washington will fix itself. It won’t.
It’s time to use the tools the Founders gave us.
It’s time for the states to act.
Because without the Fourth Amendment, we’re not citizens. We’re subjects.
And that’s not the American way.
—The Craig Bushon Show Media Team
The Truth Is Not Hate Speech™
www.craigbushon.com
