Political Breakdown
The Politics of a Constitutional Convention Has Democrats in a Panic
Dec 19, 2024
Heather Knight, New York Times San Francisco Bureau Chief, and State Senator Scott Wiener dive deep into the escalating concerns around a potential constitutional convention as Republicans gear up for power. They discuss the risks it poses to fundamental issues like abortion and immigration. Scott shares his efforts to rescind California's dormant calls for a convention, while Heather provides insights on the historical context and the implications of rewriting the Constitution in today's polarized climate. It's a thought-provoking conversation about democracy's future.
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Quick takeaways
- The fear of a constitutional convention stems from potential radical changes to the Constitution, impacting key issues like abortion and immigration.
- State Senator Scott Wiener advocates for rescinding California's call for a constitutional convention to prevent empowering right-leaning agendas amid current political tensions.
Deep dives
Understanding Constitutional Conventions
A constitutional convention allows states to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution if two-thirds, or 34 states, call for it. This method has never been used since the Constitution's ratification, leaving many uncertainties about how such a convention would be conducted. The founding documents do not provide clear guidelines on the rules or structure that a convention would follow, raising concerns about the potential outcome of a gathering that might exceed its initial agenda. This ambiguity has led to fears of a 'runaway convention' where unexpected topics could emerge, fundamentally altering the Constitution in ways that could conflict with modern values.
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