Kentucky
“Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That application to Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States, pursuant to the fifth article thereof, be, and the same is hereby, now made by this General Assembly of Kentucky; and we hereby invite our sister States to unite with us, without delay, in similar application to Congress.” – Kentucky R.1 (1861)
Representative Application
For each of the 40 States, one representative application has been highlighted. An explanation is provided as to why this application should be aggregated toward the total calling for a convention for proposing amendments. Additional applications from the State, if any, are also included.
Kentucky R.1 (1861) is among three states whose applications were motivated by a particular need, but clearly and unambiguously expressed that their intent is to be counted together with calls from other states that address other needs. This application was among several states to apply for a convention in the run up to the civil war. Kentucky specified that their call was motivated by the fact that “some of the States feel themselves deeply aggrieved.” Kentucky further made itself clear by saying the “Legislature of the Commonwealth of Kentucky suggest[s] for the consideration of that convention, as a basis for settling existing difficulties, the adoption, by way of amendments to the Constitution, the resolutions offered in the Senate of the United States by the Hon. John J. Crittenden.” This is a clear statement that Kentucky does not intend to restrict the scope of the Convention themselves. Further, the State does not desire any particular policy that it believes must be up for consideration. But rather, it believes that the Crittenden Amendment would be a suggestion for resolving some difficulties.
R.1 (1861)
RESOLUTIONS recommending call for a Convention of the United States.
WHEREAS, The people of some of the States feel themselves deeply aggrieved by the policy and measures which have been adopted by the people of some of the other States; and whereas, an amendment of the Constitution of the United States is deemed indispensably necessary to secure them against similar grievances in the future; therefore,
Resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
That application to Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States, pursuant to the fifth article thereof, be, and the same is hereby, now made by this General Assembly of Kentucky; and we hereby invite our sister States to unite with us, without delay, in similar application to Congress.
Resolved,That the Governor of this State forthwith communicate the foregoing resolution to the President of the United States, with the request that he immediately place the same before Congress, and the Executives of the several States, with the request that they lay them before their respective Legislatures.
Resolved,If the convention be called in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing resolutions, the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Kentucky suggest for the consideration of that convention, as a basis for settling existing difficulties, the adoption, by way of amendments to the Constitution, the resolutions offered in the Senate of the United States by the Hon. John J. Crittenden.
Approved January 25, 1861
Kentucky’s application remained valid and was among the 36 states with an active application for a convention on the subject of fiscal responsibility in 2017. (Map of 36 states with active applications in 2017)