(He words “Constitutional Convention” scare the bejeebers out of many people, me included. Given the state of our polity, we could end up with a constitution that supports a Euromarxist style government with no First, Second, Fourth, or Tenth Amendments. Sure, those are all hurting now, but they at least exist to some degree. That might end.
I like the author’s idea: “The GOP. Our Platform: The Constitution.” It’s a winner.
The very idea that a constitutional convention could be radical at all dates from the early 20th Century, when the propaganda was introduced into the public schools that a constitutional convention was “Unthinkable. It would be controlled by radicals.” And it has been taught that way ever since.
But it is not true. A constitutional convention would *inherently* be the most conservative body ever assembled. To start with, 34 States would need to resolve to call it. So far, the *only* issue that ever got near that much support from the States was the Balanced Budget Amendment.
Even more, to pass *any* change to the constitution, 38 States would have to agree. If just 13 States didn’t vote to *approve*, it would not change the current constitution one iota. That means they could vote “no”, or not vote at all.
So the proposition of radicalism assumes that 13 conservative State legislatures do not exist. In the US, there are 7382 State legislators. This would *require* that about 5,537 of them are radicals, Marxists, socialists, whatever. Otherwise, no changes.
You have got to be kidding.
The other popular argument for radicalism is that the federals would take over the convention. That’s a no go, because all federal officials, officers, and employees are forbidden from participating.
Now granted, every lobbyist, spy, radical, and fanatic in the world would try to get in on the deal, so whichever State hosted it would have to likely put it out in a newly built facility in a rural area, and surround it with a heavy gauntlet of determined State police and armed militiamen.
And if the convention did issue a draft that was approved by 38 States, they would likely have to stay in session with the final power to remove and replace any federal official, officer, or employee who refused to make the changes, with one who would, by a simple majority vote. Likewise, anyone who physically attacked or otherwise tried to coerce or violate the convention could be sent to prison for however long the convention decided, and with no right of appeal.
It is very serious affair, which is why it would be best that changes be debated and resolved even before the convention is seated.