This Wednesday, June 14, lawmakers in Madison are expected to vote on a dangerous provision calling for a federal constitutional convention. A constitutional convention would re-open our Constitution, essentially putting our democracy and freedom up for grabs. If a constitution convention is held, at risk are the freedoms and rights we often take for granted such as the Bill of Rights, presidential powers, what policies our government can or cannot do, the rules and roll of Congress and the courts, etc. A constitutional convention could alter absolutely anything and everything about the way the United States is governed.
Two-thirds of states must request a constitutional convention for one to be held. Backed by well-funded and well-organized conservative special interests, provisions calling for a convention have been circulating in states across the country. This week the proposal will be voted on in the Wisconsin Assembly.
Opening up our long-treasured and respected U.S. Constitution with a convention is the wrong way to fix our problems. Once you open up our Constitution, special interests can and will insert any sort of undemocratic policy changes they lobby hard enough for with the politicians they fund and these bad policies will then be forever enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Anything added during a constitutional convention will be extremely hard to reverse. People's rights and freedom are at risk.
Our government is designed to work in a collaborative, democratic way with elected representatives acting on behalf of citizens, open public debate, amendments added in a democratic way, with built in checks and balances to protect the people. A constitutional convention would completely skirt the way our democracy works.
The first and only Constitutional Convention took place in 1787 in Philadelphia and the result was the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Informative read.
Posted by: Anita | 06/16/2017 at 06:25 AM