‘Convention of States’ a dangerous, untested effort to rewrite our Constitution | Opinion

At a time when extreme gerrymandering has created unprecedented polarization and big money buys access and influence, a potentially destabilizing constitutional convention is the last thing we need

Mia Lewis
Opinion contributor

I read Dan Sewell’s July 14 column on the Convention of States campaign (Push for ‘Convention of States’ makes some Ohioans feel edgy and suspicious). While he closes by saying it’s understandable that the idea of a convention makes some people feel uneasy, Mr. Sewell glosses over many urgent questions about this untested and frightening possibility for our country, and in doing so, grossly underestimates the threat at hand.

Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is required to hold a constitutional convention if two-thirds of state legislatures (34 states) call for one. But here’s the catch: there are absolutely no rules for an Article V Convention outlined in the Constitution.

That means the group of people convening to rewrite our Constitution could be totally unelected and unaccountable. There is nothing limiting the convention to a single issue, so the delegates could write amendments that revoke any or all of our most cherished rights and freedoms − the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to peaceful protest, the right to privacy − even the right to vote.

Equally troubling is the fact that there are no rules preventing corporations from pouring money into the convention to ensure they get their way. Extremists and wealthy special interests see an Article V Convention as their best chance to write their un-American agenda into the Constitution. That’s why they are working around the clock to convince their allies in state legislatures − including in Ohio − to make it happen.

An untested, unscripted Article V convention could lead to paralyzing chaos: No judicial, legislative, or executive body would have clear authority to settle disputes about anything decided at a convention, opening the door to endless legal battles that would threaten the functioning of our democracy and economy.

This special-interest-backed threat to our democracy is currently flying almost completely under the radar. Few Americans are aware that a constitutional convention can be called, let alone that there would be no checks on its scope.

Even fewer know that the process to call a convention is well underway − already 19 out of the required 34 states (two-thirds) have signed on − or that it’s being underwritten by some of the nation’s richest individuals.
Given all the unknowns and potential dangers, a constitutional convention clearly poses an unacceptable risk, particularly in the current political climate. It’s past time to spotlight that risk and sound an alarm for the preservation of our Constitution and our American way of life.

Here in Ohio, two bills have already been introduced to add Ohio to the list of states pushing for a convention (House Joint Resolution 3 and House Bill 607).

Ohioans who want to protect our rights and freedoms need to push back. We need to tell our representatives that we reject this dangerous effort to upend our Constitution.

Those who are feeling edgy and suspicious are correct. At a time when extreme gerrymandering has created unprecedented polarization and big money buys access and influence, a potentially destabilizing constitutional convention is the last thing we need. The interests of everyday Americans would be shut out of the ultimate closed-door meeting, and there would be no way to limit the scope of the convention and no way to guarantee that our civil liberties and constitutional process would be protected.

Let’s come together to protect the core rights and freedoms granted us as Americans in our Constitution; let’s protect the Constitution and American democracy itself by rejecting an Article V Convention of the States.

Mia Lewis is associate director of Common Cause Ohio, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.