Sample Testimony from Montana #16

Written Testimony graciously provided by the COS Montana Team

Attachment: 4720/COS_Testimony_2025_The_Stability_of_the_Constitution.pdf

Mr. Chairman, some who oppose our bill are constantly talking about “run away” conventions and
“losing the Constitution”. They must believe that our Constitution is not very durable.

Yet, in spite of the abuses heaped on it by Congress, the Courts and the Executive; our current
Constitution has remained the Supreme Law of the Land for 238 years and counting.

Our federal government continues to perform in many unconstitutional ways. One of the most notable is
the ignoring of the 10

th

Amendment.

Fortunately, critical parts of the Constitution are still revered and enforced. Examples of this are our most
precious rights enshrined in the 1

st

and 2

nd

Amendments. The structure of our Legislative Branch and

Courts follow the plan laid out in Articles 1 and 3 and subsequent amendment. No President has
attempted to serve more than two terms since ratification of the 22

nd

Amendment 74 years ago. By virtue

of the 19

th

Amendment, women have been voting for 105 years.

These facts, and many others like them, make us scratch our heads when we hear opponents fear monger
about run away conventions. Why is using the second half of Article V to amend the Constitution so
dangerous? The answer is that it is not. The Framers put the second half of Article V in for a very
specific purpose. It was another one of their brilliant checks and balances. It is remarkable, and
unfortunate, that we have not used it yet.

The provision before you today allows the states to gather for the purpose of proposing amendments to
the Constitution related solely to term limits, fiscal responsibility and reduction in the size, scope, and
jurisdiction of the federal government.

By the Framers design, it is a means to bypass an arrogant and out of control federal government. Nothing
coming out of that amendments convention can become part of our Constitution unless the legislatures of
38 states vote yes. Put another way, 13 states can stop anything from that convention from being ratified.
This difficulty in proposing and ratifying amendment is part of the brilliant and durable design of our
Constitution.

Please support ill_name_here.

Thank You.

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Created:	2025-05-30 21:48 GMT
Updated:	2025-05-30 21:48 GMT
Published:	2025-05-30 21:48 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 12:36 GMT
Change Author:	Sarah Santana
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