created by illegalmorality on 06/03/2025 at 02:00 UTC*
247 upvotes, 30 top-level comments (showing 25)
There's legal precedent that a Constitutional Convention could be called to restructure government from outside of Congress. When US government problems are inherently ingrained, a call for a Convention seems like the only alternative solution.
Democrats are adamant on the need for change, but can't do so without Congress. One solution could be creating extra branches of government like Taiwan does[1], with one new Branch dedicated to having an impartial governmental bureaucracy. If there's a blue wave soon, calling for a Convention could be possible, but there doesn't seem to be any demand for this.
1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ig_plOAmRo
A convention could potentially restructure Congress to a more dynamic electoral system, and eliminate the inadequacies of Congress. Such as proposing a Westminster style semi-presidential model reformed to suit America[2]. This is something I don't think Congress could ever accomplish amongst themselves.
2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbYLinvaTH8
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1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
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Comment by averageduder at 06/03/2025 at 02:05 UTC
280 upvotes, 7 direct replies
Youre never going to get 34 states to agree on anything. I’m not even sure you could get 34 states to agree to have a convention in the first place much less agree on some common reform
Comment by Moccus at 06/03/2025 at 02:09 UTC
100 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Republicans control a lot more state legislatures than Democrats, and that's not likely to change any time soon. As such, anything that comes out of a convention would likely favor Republicans, so there's not much reason for Democrats to call for it.
It's also highly unlikely that 3/4 of the states would be able to agree on any meaningful changes.
Comment by lunacyfox at 06/03/2025 at 03:04 UTC
15 upvotes, 0 direct replies
So...
Here is the current map which lays out which states have votes out there for a Constitutional Convention.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte%5C_testimony/2021/ehe/1Mm-G6vYI%5C_9RPKijMd3ORu1B0D2Pi8fV1.pdf[1][2]
1: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte%5C_testimony/2021/ehe/1Mm-G6vYI%5C_9RPKijMd3ORu1B0D2Pi8fV1.pdf
2: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/cmte_testimony/2021/ehe/1Mm-G6vYI_9RPKijMd3ORu1B0D2Pi8fV1.pdf
I can see 5 and if I strain my eyes at the view 6 Trump states, on top of the 28 others.
I don't think this would have the effect you want it to.
Comment by rottentomatopi at 06/03/2025 at 02:45 UTC
34 upvotes, 1 direct replies
No. Just no. The right has been wanting a constitutional convention for a while. If you do it when they hold majority in every aspect of government, they will rewrite the whole damn thing.
Don’t fall for it. It’s not the time. And it’s definitely not the solution.
Comment by Objective_Aside1858 at 06/03/2025 at 03:24 UTC
22 upvotes, 1 direct replies
The last Constitutional Convention threw the previous version of the Constitution (the Articles of Confederation) in the trash and started from scratch
Uh. No thank you
Comment by JimC29 at 06/03/2025 at 02:10 UTC
21 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Republicans control more state governments than Democrats. They would control the convention. The Democrats at least have enough to stop them. The top things that would proposed are permanently banning abortion and same sex marriage if a convention ever happens.
Comment by flossdaily at 06/03/2025 at 02:10 UTC
15 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Because the reforms we need require an overthrow of the MAGA cult, but the MAGA cult easily has enough support to stop any constitutional amendment.
The much easier path is just to get a handful of Republican senators to fulfill their oaths of office. But even that is impossible.
We. Are. Fucked.
Comment by Moist_Jockrash at 06/03/2025 at 03:13 UTC*
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Well first off, as it stands right now, there are 27 Republican governors to 23 Democrat governors so, that's already a loss for democrats. But even if it was split 50/50, you aren't ever going to get 50/50 states to agree on literally anything so, that's just out of the question. That's a dream kind of thought tbh. Kinda sad but it's just the truth.
Secondly, there isn't going to be a blue wave anytime soon. The blue wave that was expected in 2024 was pretty blood red and, dems took a shotgun and aimed it at their feet and blew their feet off then tried to prove they were still worthy of anything. Dems have a lot of work to do to convince the majority they are worthy again... I hope they do but, I don't have high hopes. I think the only way dems will win anything anytime soon is if they quit putting 100% of their focus on demeaning trump and focus on what THEY have to offer. Until they decide to quit focusing on Trump, they will never win.
Comment by CombinationLivid8284 at 06/03/2025 at 07:16 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
We aren’t at that stage yet.
First we would need a constitutional crisis. Which we haven’t fully hit yet. Trump’s power grabs are working their way thru the judiciary. It takes time. If that doesn’t work out, then there’s a constitutional crisis as he’s either not listening to the courts or they fall under his control.
Second, pain has to be felt on the ground more. Just the sad nature of it. There has to be an inciting incident for a mass movement, think George Floyd a few years ago.
Third, a constitutional convention is something that is being considered by a number of state legislatures. It’s a conservative project. Under the constitution if we followed its rules for a constitutional convention the votes go by states, with representatives chosen by the state legislatures. It wouldn’t represent the popular will. It would give small red states an outsized power like the senate.
Comment by manbeardawg at 06/03/2025 at 05:32 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Even if we could, I am certain we would not want a constitutional convention right now. Too much uncertainty, and Dems have shown no ability to beat Republicans on key issues. Once you call a convention, there’s no guarantee that it will only solve “problems.” Remember, the last one we had was just supposed to tweak the Articles of Confederation…
Comment by icedcoffeeheadass at 06/03/2025 at 19:31 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
There will never be another con convention. God help us if there is ever one, they will use it to fuck us to death.
Comment by almightywhacko at 06/03/2025 at 03:51 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Because 27 out of 50 governors are Republican, and Republicans follow the party line. They'll never try to alter the government while their own party is in power.
Comment by one_mind at 06/03/2025 at 02:17 UTC
8 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Because the current crisis, although real, is not that significant. America lived through much more tumultuous times than this - particularly around the issues of voting rights and segregation, but backlash against the Vietnam war and the great depression and other events are also up there. Since about the mid-70's we have lived in an era of unprecedented stability. Things are bad right now, but they've been this bad (and worse) many times before.
Comment by hatlock at 06/03/2025 at 03:05 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Would it be easier to get 3 Republican congressmen to work with democrats? Or 11 Republican governors? Honest question. And of course, all of the Democratic governor and/or congressmen would have to agree.
Comment by nosecohn at 06/03/2025 at 03:21 UTC*
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Even if we could meet the incredibly high bar to call a convention, it's very risky. Once it starts, we have no way of knowing how it's going to go.
Right now, the right-wing has a highly effective media ecosphere and I'm sure they'd use it to push their representatives to take the opportunity of a convention to remake the system of governance in the ways *they* want, not the way Democrats want. We could actually end up with something substantially further away from what you imagine than what we have now.
Comment by mr-louzhu at 06/03/2025 at 07:26 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The real turd in the pot is first past the post elections and the electoral college. These pretty much ensure US politics will remain a hyper-partisan bipolar shit show where it's a constant race to the bottom to see who can be the most vile.
That being said, it really seems like we're getting close to that time in the course of human events where the tree of liberty needs to be watered with the blood of patriots. When a governmental system no longer serves the happiness of the people, it must be discarded.
Comment by BigDaddyCoolDeisel at 06/03/2025 at 13:27 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The only ones calling for a Constitutional Convention the last decade or so are shadowy right-wing interest groups. That alone should tell you to stay away from it for the time being.
The Constitution is generally functioning if you abide by it. It's an enforcement issue.
Comment by Isacobs_35160_LHM at 06/03/2025 at 03:05 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Both paths are designed so that the constitution cannot be easily changed, which is both good and bad. The good thing is that the inept cannot change the constitution, but the bad thing is that the constitution cannot be changed by changes that could benefit everyone.
Comment by angrybirdseller at 06/03/2025 at 08:19 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Far easier solution weaken executive branch, or weaken presidency, and gives political power to Mike Johnson. Mike Johnson becomes prime minister!
Comment by kupomu27 at 06/03/2025 at 11:59 UTC*
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
In the past, you can. But the oligarchs will put so much money into the election and buy the votes from the voters. It will create chaos and create a separatist.
Comment by NicoRath at 06/03/2025 at 13:08 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Because you can't get 34 governors to agree on anything. It's the same reason why there haven't been any new constitutional amendments in a while, you can't get 2/3 of Congress to agree on anything important. If the Democrats say the weather is nice, at least half of the GOP will disagree with them just to be able to say they disagree with the Democrats.
Comment by NimusNix at 06/03/2025 at 16:13 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Because it's a stupid idea. A constitutional convention is the wild west, and you don't know what you will come out with. It could quite literally make things worse.
Stupid, stupid, stupid idea. I wouldn't trust anyone seriously suggesting it.
Comment by NJRR_Brian at 07/03/2025 at 00:57 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If the plan is to Assemble a large amount Americans most of whom think Trans people are running fent through Canada to help Ukraine invade Russia, and get a coherent system of government together, we need a different plan.
Comment by ResurgentOcelot at 06/03/2025 at 07:06 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I love the idea of a constitutional convention, but only one with actual democracy authority.
You’re still talking about governors and parliamentary systems—in other words, great people ruling the American people, continuing to make a myth out of the ideal of government of the People, by the People, for the People.
That’s just more philosophical republicanism, when republicans of all parties and ideological leanings have proven themselves just as incapable of practical and fair governance as they have historically accused “the mob” of being.
Claims of indirect systems being more capable have been well disproven, leaving real direct democracy as the only ethical solution. If people fuck up their own lives in self-government, at least it’s no one’s fault but our own.
Once direct democracy was actually impossible—but not any more. How about we use our incredible advances in communication and information technology to get most of the adult population of the United States in convention for months on end until we can form a government that is actually democratic?
Otherwise it’s just more minorities of powerful, rich people pretending to know what’s best while actually pushing their self-serving plans on everyone else by coercion and force. And that isn’t going to improve anything. That will just keep fucking the world up as it has been for centuries.