Marriah Star (12/27/2024 opinion) exhibits wishful thinking for proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution, primarily supported by liberals. He doesnβt mention the different efforts to call an Article V Constitutional Convention, some with designs definitely not democratic.
The Constitution allows two methods for proposing amendments: passing both houses of Congress with a 2/3 vote, or request for a convention by 2/3 of state legislatures. The latter has never been used, largely because the Constitution provides no rules for such a convention, a large uncertainty.
There is no guarantee a convention will tackle specific issues or will not be diverted for unintended purposes. We have historical experience with this, as the Constitutional Convention of 1887 was intended to update the Articles of Confederation, but instead produced a new Constitution.
The unintended consequences of a Constitutional Convention are likely, and though slow, amendments that have sufficient support will pass Congress as they have 27 times previously.
Bruce Hale
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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