INTRODUCTION 



The Constitution of North Carolina contains two distinct and 

 alternative procedures for its apiendment. Both were first inserted 

 in the Constitution by the Convention of l835> and while they have 

 both undergone changes in the intervening years, they retain the 

 same independence of character x^rith which they began. 



The first method of constitutional amendment is by a conven- 

 tion of the people, called by the General Assembly (two-thirds 

 of the members of each house concurring) with the approval of the 

 people at the polls, -^ While the Constitution does not expressly 

 empower a convention to amend the Constitution—indeed, it grants 

 a convention no poxjers at all--the principal use to which conven- 

 tions called under this provision have been put has been the 

 proposal of amendments to the s tate Constitution, 



The second method of constitional amendment is by initiation 

 of a proposal by the General Assembly, three-fifths of the whole 

 membership of each house concurring, and its ratification by the 

 people at a general election,*^ 



The purpose of this report is to examine the first of these 

 methods of constitutional amendment, the convention. The nature 

 and function of the convention of the people will be dealt with 

 briefly. The use of the convention in North C Carolina, the methods 

 used in calling conventions in this State, the membership of the 

 several North Carolina conventions (including the apportionment 



^ Constitution of North Carolina , Art, XIII, Sees. 1 and 2, 

 ^ Amendments of 183$ , Art, IV, Sec, I, Cls, 1 and 2. 

 ^ Constitution, Art . XIII, Sec. 1, 

 ^Constitution, Art, XIII, Sec, 2* 



