Rob Natelson

The Convention of States in American History 0
- June 1, 2017
In this short essay, constitutional historian Rob Natelson thumbnails the three-centuries long history of “conventions of the states.” When delegations from the states assemble in Phoenix, Arizona later this year, they will be basking in a long and rich American tradition. As far back as 1677, British colonies in North America sent “commissioners” (delegates) to
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Convention Rules for a Convention of the States 0
- May 28, 2017
The convention of the states meeting in Phoenix, Arizona in September will need a set of rules. Moreover, that convention will be engaged in further rule-writing because the Arizona Legislature called it partly to suggest rules for a prospective Article V Convention for Proposing Amendments. I suggest the planners start with the Model Rules provided
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Where Congress’s Power to Regulate Immigration Comes From 0
- May 24, 2017
Congress’s power to regulate immigration comes from the law of nations—the meaning of which many constitutional commentators are unfamiliar.
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How Progressives Promoted the “Runaway Convention” Myth To Protect the “Warren Court’s” Judicial Activism 0
- May 21, 2017
You may have heard alarms that if we hold a national convention for proposing constitutional amendments the gathering would be an uncontrollable constitutional convention (“con-con”) that could propose anything at all. The claim is called the “runaway scenario.” It has almost no basis in history or law. But it has long frightened Americans away from
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The Constitution does indeed permit immigration caps as part of ‘the law of nations’0
- May 15, 2017
Some pro-immigration activists question whether the federal government has any constitutional power over immigration. “Where,” they ask, “is the word ‘immigration’ among the powers the Constitution grants to Congress?”
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How progressives promoted the ‘runaway convention’ myth to save judicial activism 0
- May 7, 2017
You may have heard alarms that if we hold a national convention for proposing constitutional amendments the gathering would be an uncontrollable constitutional convention (“con-con”) that could propose anything at all. The claim is called the “runaway scenario.” It has almost no basis in history or law.
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