It seems tempting to invoke Article V to amend the Constitution—to “fix” it, or “restore” it, or “improve” it. But is it worth the risk? Should the states call a convention to amend the Constitution?
On Dec. 7, Harvard Law School Professor Lawrence Lessig participated in a debate hosted by Intelligence Squared U.S. on whether or not states should call a convention to amend the Constitution.
Time for Another Constitutional Convention?
Professor Lessig and Walter Olson previewed their debate over the wisdom of convening another Constitutional Convention on WNYC. Could it bypass the gridlock in Congress?
Lessig argued for the motion to invoke Article V, which provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.
Other debate participants included Mark Meckler, president of Citizens for Self-Governance, who also argued in favor; David Super, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center; and Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Constitutional Studies (both against the motion).
The debate is presented in partnership with the National Constitution Center.