Tennessee lawmakers have joined four other states in calling for a national convention on amending the U.S. Constitution that one supporter called the "atomic bomb of politics."
The resolution sponsored by Republican Representative Sheila Butt of Columbia passed on a 59-31 vote in the House on Thursday. The Senate previously voted 23-5 in favor of the measure.
Butt said the convention would be limited to focusing on adding fiscal and jurisdictional restraints on the federal government and to urge term limits for members of Congress. Opponents voiced concerns that a constitutional convention could quickly overstep those bounds and seek to changes to religious and gun rights.
Tennessee joined Alabama, Alaska, Florida, and Georgia in approving the measure. Thirty-four states need pass the resolution for the convention to be called.
