13: Time Limit For Applications
This bill shall be inoperative after a time limit of fifty years from the date of the submission hereof to the Congress, unless by this Legislature’s count the legislatures of two thirds of the several states shall have applied for a Convention for proposing a Citizens’ Initiatives Amendment. This State shall resubmit this application or revised application for a Convention for proposing a Citizens’ Initiatives Amendment in or during or in the closest assembly possible to the third month of every third year to ensure that Congress cannot invoke laches.
Explanation of Time Limit For Applications
This clarifies the amount of time that Congress must consider this Application to Call a Constitutional Convention open and valid. Amendment XIX in 1920 gave women the right to vote — 51 years after Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucy Stone established the first national suffrage organizations in 1869.
It prevents Congress from invoking the doctrine of laches to claim the application is no longer valid.