Convention can save our republic
America was built on the revolutionary idea that our rights come from God, not from government. To protect those rights, our founders created a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But today, that government has been hijacked by politicians and bureaucrats who disregard the will of the people, rack up trillions in debt and expand the federal bureaucracy into more and more aspects of our lives. As president, I will promote a convention of states to amend the Constitution and restore limited government.
The framers of our Constitution allowed for a constitutional convention because they knew our citizens were the ultimate defense against an overbearing federal government. They gave the American people, through their state representatives, the power to call a convention made up of at least 34 states, where delegates could then propose amendments that would require the support of 38 states to become law.
This method of amending our Constitution has become necessary today because of Washington’s refusal to place restrictions on itself. The amendment process must be approached with caution, which is why I believe the agenda should be limited to ideas that reduce the size and scope of the federal government, such as imposing term limits on Congress and the Supreme Court and forcing fiscal responsibility through a balanced budget requirement. Limiting the agenda will prevent the convention from being overtaken by special interests.
From the beginning, our founders knew it would require great effort and care to keep government restrained. After the constitutional convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a bystander, “Well, Doctor, what have we got — a republic or a monarchy?” And Franklin replied, “A republic — if you can keep it.”
Keeping it has never been easy, and it will not be easy in our time. Our republic is under siege by the Washington establishment in both parties. But by working together through a convention of states, our people and our next president can keep our republic, strengthen it and save the American dream for the next generation.