Petition Opposing an Article V Convention
Whereas: A number of Utah legislators want Congress to call for an Article V Convention wherein the Constitution could be amended; and
Whereas: Changing the Constitution does not guarantee a change in the behavior of federal officials who already ignore much of the Constitution; and
Whereas: A constitutional convention provides an opportunity:
- For maneuvering by the political elite to seek a “seat at the table,” with no guarantee of fairness or uniformity to the methods by which convention delegates are selected;
- For factions both on the “left” and the “right” ends of the political spectrum to change the governing document in any number of unanticipated ways;
- For the Constitution to be swept aside and replaced, just as the Articles of Confederation were supplanted in 1787, and a new ratification process implemented;
Whereas: The risks of losing the Constitution and the Bill of Rights outweigh the potential benefits of amending them in hopes of improving them; and
Whereas: James Madison said the following in November 1788:
Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention which assembled under every propitious circumstance, I should tremble for the result of a Second, meeting in the present temper of America, and under all the disadvantages I have mentioned.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, respectfully demand that the legislators of Utah oppose any and all efforts to ask the US Congress to hold a constitutional convention at the present time.