This book investigates the legal and political complexities surrounding the Article V convention clause as a mechanism for amending the United States Constitution. Russell L. Caplan, a legal scholar, utilizes historical analysis and constitutional theory to examine the recurring tension between state-led efforts to call a national convention and the resistance from Congress. He argues that the history of these convention drives reveals a persistent pattern of constitutional brinksmanship that challenges the balance of power between federal and state authorities.

Legal scholars and political historians recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the procedural and political hurdles of the Article V convention process. Experts frequently cite the book for its systematic approach to a historically neglected area of constitutional law.