Opponents of the Article V process often try to convince legislators and Americans that a Convention of States will "run away."
There is a mountain of evidence proving that this won't happen, as we've outlined here and here. But those who fearmonger about a "runaway convention" conveniently forget about our current runaway Congress.
Congress can, at any time, propose any number of constitutional amendments. What's more, they effectively amend the Constitution every time they pass a law that infringes on constitutional rights or illegally expands the power of the federal government over the states.
They just tried to pass one such law. Dubbed the "Women's Health Protection Act," the bill would have codified Roe v. Wade into federal law and effectively banned state laws that attempt to restrict abortion. The bill would have barred state-level regulations such as ultrasound requirements, waiting periods, and certain gestational age restrictions, including the Texas Heartbeat Act.
The bill failed to meet the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, but Democrats are constantly pushing to do away with that filibuster rule. If they're successful, you can bet that they'll move full steam ahead with this and other disastrous bills.
Everyday Americans who want to limit federal power should be far more concerned about our current runaway Congress than a "runaway convention." A Convention of States is entirely controlled by the states as each state sends its delegation to the Convention. States vote on amendment proposals, and each state gets one vote. This ensures that only the best, most popular amendment proposals are sent back to the states for ratification.
But even at this point, the process is far from over. Thirty-eight states must ratify any amendment proposal that makes it out of the Convention. Only amendments that enjoy broad support across a supermajority of states will be ratified. This is a much higher bar than Congress must overcome to pass overreaching legislation that infringes on our rights.
In short, the "runaway convention" is a myth, but the runaway Congress is all too real. If we want to end the threat of an overreaching, all-powerful Congress, we must use the Founders' solution to tyranny and call an Article V Convention of States.
