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3 J.L. & Pol. 51 (1986-1987)
The Constitutional Convention: A Safe Political Option

handle is hein.journals/jlp3 and id is 61 raw text is: The Constitutional Convention: A Safe Political Option by Paul J. Weber* Authority for the constitutional convention arises from article V of the Constitution, which reads: The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three- fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be pro- posed by the Congress. Contemporary discussions of constitutional conventions generally take place on two levels: in academic or scholarly literature and in the popular media. Rarely do these different discussions affect each other. There is, however, one exception: the issue of the safety of a constitutional convention. Unfortunately, many scholars have done the nation a disservice by concocting hypothetical horribles.1 They focus on whether a constitutional convention would jeopardize civil liberties or produce a constitutional, economic or social crisis. These hypothetical problems are then magnified by the media, distracting public attention from the real problems addressed by those who call for a convention.' This article will explore the various points in the constitutional * Professor of Political Science, University of Louisville. See, e.g., Goldberg, The Proposed Constitutional Convention, 11 Hastings Const. L.Q. 1 (1983); see also Gunther, Constitutional Roulette: The Dimensions of the Risk, in The Constitution and the Budget 5 (W. Moore & R. Penner ed. 1980). ' This article takes no position on the value, wisdom or merits of specific amendments which are the bases of calls for a convention.

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