Omar Bennett
ALEC, short for the American Legislative Exchange Council, is a conservative group that has been pushing for a convention of the 50 states to amend the US Constitution. This convention would aim to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, reduce its authority, and limit the terms of federal elected officials. While ALEC has faced legal questions and criticism from both liberal and conservative scholars, they have made progress in some states. The process of amending state constitutions varies across the US, with 18 states having a process for initiated constitutional amendments and 44 states with laws outlining how a constitutional convention can be called.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | To impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, reduce its authority, and limit the terms of federal elected officials |
| Supporters | Citizens for Self-Governance, Texas-based group with Tea Party roots, billionaire Koch brothers, and Donors Trust |
| Critics | Rob Natelson, Lawrence Lessig, Russ Feingold, David Super, John Birch Society, Anthony Scalia |
| Process | Article 5 of the Constitution allows states to sidestep Congress and draft their own amendments when two-thirds of their legislatures demand it |
| States Involved | Wisconsin, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho, Kentucky |
| ALEC's Role | Passing resolutions, hosting workshops and handbooks, pursuing a partisan agenda, cheering on the idea of a "con con" |
| Legal Status | Faces legal questions, with critics calling the effort "wild," "completely illegitimate," and "deeply flawed" |
| Potential Impact | Could help Trump expand presidential power, limit citizenship, or allow a third term |
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What You'll Learn
ALEC's pursuit of a constitutional convention
ALEC, short for the American Legislative Exchange Council, has been pushing for a constitutional convention for years. The conservative group has passed multiple resolutions calling for changes to the Constitution, hosted workshops, and even drafted resolutions outlining proposed rules of procedure. ALEC's efforts are backed by Citizens for Self-Governance, a Texas-based group with Tea Party roots, which aims to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, reduce its authority, and limit the terms of federal elected officials.
However, ALEC's push for a constitutional convention has faced legal questions and criticism. Documents obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) revealed infighting between different factions vying for state approval of their convention proposals. Additionally, legal scholars and critics have warned that holding an amendment-writing meeting without historical precedent or written rules could lead to constitutional mischief. There are also concerns about the partisan nature of ALEC's agenda, with critics arguing that it could damage the Constitution as a unifying force.
Despite these concerns, ALEC continues to pursue its goal of a constitutional convention. While their efforts have faced setbacks in some states, they remain committed to their agenda of pursuing cuts to social services and imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government. The ultimate success of ALEC's efforts remains to be seen, but the group's influence in state legislatures cannot be understated.
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ALEC's partisan agenda
ALEC, short for the American Legislative Exchange Council, is a non-profit organization that connects conservative state legislators with private sector corporations to influence policy and shape public opinion. ALEC has been pushing for a constitutional convention to pursue a highly partisan agenda and rewrite the Constitution. This effort, known as a "Con Con", has raised legal questions and faced criticism from both liberal and conservative scholars.
The process of amending state constitutions varies across the United States. While most states require voter ratification of proposed amendments, Delaware is an exception, with the legislature voting on amendments without requiring voter approval. 18 states have a process for initiated constitutional amendments, where amendments are put on the ballot through citizen signature petitions. Additionally, 44 states have laws outlining how a constitutional convention can be called.
The push for a constitutional convention by ALEC and its allies has sparked concerns about the potential for constitutional mischief. Critics argue that holding an amendment-writing meeting without historical precedent or written rules could lead to unintended consequences. Some states, like Colorado and Illinois, have passed resolutions withdrawing their petitions to avoid the threat of a convention. Despite facing legal questions and criticism, ALEC continues to pursue its partisan agenda, taking advantage of political victories in state legislatures to advance its goals.
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The national debt
ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council) has been pushing for a convention of the 50 states to amend the US Constitution for several years. This convention, also known as a "con con", would aim to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, reduce its authority, and limit the terms of federal elected officials. While ALEC and its supporters claim that this is necessary to address the national debt, critics argue that it could be used to expand presidential power and limit citizenship.
The push for a convention is based on Article 5 of the Constitution, which allows states to bypass Congress and draft their own amendments if two-thirds of their legislatures demand it. However, there are concerns that this process could be exploited, as there are no written rules for such a convention, and it could open a Pandora's box of constitutional issues. Critics also argue that the motivation behind the convention is to imbue the Constitution with a binding limit on federal spending, which could be destructive to the country's future prosperity.
The movement has gained support in recent years as Republicans have surged to control state legislatures. However, it has also faced legal challenges and opposition from some skeptical constitutional scholars and right-wing groups. The danger of a "runaway convention" has prompted groups like the John Birch Society and the late US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia to denounce the idea.
Despite these challenges, ALEC and its allies continue to pursue their agenda, and they have made progress in some states. While there are differing processes for amending state constitutions, the push for a national convention to address the national debt remains a highly partisan and controversial issue.
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The role of Citizens for Self-Governance
Citizens for Self-Governance is a Texas-based group with Tea Party roots and backing from ALEC. The group advocates for an amendment to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, reduce its authority, and limit the terms of federal elected officials. This amendment, according to the group, would address the national debt, which threatens Americans' future prosperity.
The group's efforts are focused on utilizing the process outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution, which allows states to draft their own constitutional amendments without congressional approval if two-thirds of their legislatures demand it. This process has gained traction as Republicans have surged to control state legislatures. Citizens for Self-Governance aims to harness this momentum to achieve its goals of reducing federal authority and imposing fiscal restraints.
The group's activities highlight the ongoing discussions and debates surrounding self-governance and the role of citizens in the US political system. Citizens for Self-Governance contributes to the dialogue by advocating for increased citizen involvement and state power, which they believe will lead to more just and effective governance.
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The danger of a runaway convention
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a conservative group that has long pushed for a constitutional convention to pursue a partisan agenda. While ALEC and its supporters claim that such a convention would be an opportunity to address issues like the national debt and federal spending, critics argue that it could lead to a "runaway convention," where delegates exceed their mandate and propose radical changes to the Constitution.
The danger of a "runaway convention" is a significant concern for many, including right-wing groups and icons such as the John Birch Society and the late US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia. They worry that once a convention is called, there are no limits on what delegates can do or propose. This could potentially open a Pandora's box of constitutional changes that could fundamentally alter the nation's governing document.
For example, while the immediate focus of the convention may be on issues like the national debt, legal experts warn that it could quickly expand to other areas. These could include limiting who can become a U.S. citizen, allowing the president to overrule Congress on spending decisions, or even paving the way for a president to run for a third term. The lack of historical precedent and written rules for such a convention further contributes to the uncertainty and potential for abuse.
The push for a constitutional convention by ALEC and its allies has faced legal challenges and criticism from both liberal and conservative scholars. They argue that the effort is "wild," "completely illegitimate," and "deeply flawed." Additionally, the process of calling a convention by reaching the two-thirds threshold of state legislatures has been controversial, with critics pointing out the inconsistent and selective use of petitions from different time periods to support their case.
In conclusion, the danger of a "runaway convention" is a valid concern that highlights the potential risks of a constitutional convention pushed by partisan groups like ALEC. While supporters argue for the need to address specific issues, the lack of safeguards and historical precedent raises the possibility of far-reaching and unintended consequences that could fundamentally reshape the nation's laws and governing principles.
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Frequently asked questions
ALEC, short for the American Legislative Exchange Council, is a non-profit organization that promotes the conservative agenda at the state level.
ALEC is pushing for a convention of all 50 states to amend the US Constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, reduce its authority, and limit the terms of federal elected officials.
ALEC is taking advantage of Article 5 of the US Constitution, which allows states to sidestep Congress and draft their own constitutional amendments when two-thirds of their legislatures demand it.
While ALEC's efforts are focused on the national debt, legal experts warn that it could lead to other changes, such as limiting citizenship, expanding presidential power, or allowing the president to overrule Congress' spending decisions.
