One of the most common objections against an Article V Convention of States is known as the "runaway convention" objection. This argument imagines a doomsday scenario in which a Convention of States "runs away" and makes changes to the Constitution that are outside of its original purpose.
There are numerous answers to this objection, not the least of which is that 38 states must ratify any amendment proposals that come out of a convention.
But if you're unconvinced by this safeguard, and you still worry about a "runaway convention," consider this: Congress can already propose constitutional amendments at any time.
As Prof. Rob Natelson explains in the video below, Congress is the epitome of a "runaway convention," and congresspeople use their allies in the courts to uphold their extra-constitutional legislation.
"We have a runaway constitutional convention right now: it's called Congress," Natelson says at the conclusion of his interview. "Congress can propose an amendment any day of the week."
Here's the truth: the Convention of States process is safe, but trusting the federal government to impose limits on itself is dangerous. We cannot let the status quo in D.C. remain, which is why millions of Americans have joined the Convention of States movement.
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