Sample Testimony from Montana #7

Written Testimony graciously provided by the COS Montana Team

Attachment: 4711/COS_Testimony_2023-7_US_Constitutional_Stability.pdf

The Stability of the US and its Constitution

(2:30 Version)

My name is Stu Goodner, my wife and I live in Boulder, where we run the Panther Pit, a safe
place where the youth of Jefferson County can hang out and get a free lunch. It is also where
we serve as a Deacon at our church and teach Biblical Citizenship and Constitution classes.

It is because of the latter that I am always excited to talk about what an amazing governing
document that our Constitution is.

Simple enough to fit in the breast pocket of a jacket, yet robust enough to govern one of the
greatest countries the earth has seen for over 230 years now. In this same time frame Canada
has had 2 Constitutions, Russia – 4, Germany – 5, Mexico – 6, Poland – 8, Spain – 12, Chile
somewhere between 4-8, and France – 15 constitutions.

One of the keys to the constitution’s longevity is our founders’ wisdom in building in two
processes for amending it. Part of this wisdom is making the amendment process very difficult.
More than 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have been ratified into law.

There are some that propagate a false narrative about a “runaway convention”, or somehow
“losing the constitution” through this process. This can quickly and easily be debunked as
either ignorance of the process, or worse a level of disingenuousness.

State legislatures, such as this one, establish the parameters for the convention. Delegates
that do not adhere to the wishes of the legislature can, and should, be recalled and replaced at
any time.

Finally, the work product of the convention is non-binding until ratified by 3/4 of the states.

Based on this, we can see that State Legislatures, such as yourselves, have control of the
process from the beginning, through the convention, to the final step of ratifying any proposed
amendments. Therefore, it is impossible for them, for you, to somehow lose control.

Our constitutional amendment process is difficult, and requires a great investment of time, but
well worth the effort. Through this process we have established an end to slavery; guaranteed
freedoms of religion, speech, and press; the right to bear arms, and the right for all people to
vote regardless of race and gender.

One of the most important amendments, in my opinion, is that powers not specifically given to
the Federal government are given to the States, and to the people.

In summary, our constitution is stable and strong. Our country is as well as long as it adheres
to this governing document. We need to continue to strengthen the constitution by using it as
designed such as the Constitutional Amendment processes found in Article V.

Therefore, please support SJ2.

Thank you.

The Stability of the US and its Constitution

(2:00 Version)

I am always excited to talk about what an amazing governing document that our Constitution
is.

Simple enough to fit in the breast pocket of a jacket, yet robust enough to govern one of the
greatest countries the earth has seen for over 230 years now.

One of the keys to the constitution’s longevity is our founders’ wisdom in building in two
processes for amending it. Part of this wisdom is making the amendment process very difficult.
More than 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have been ratified into law.

There are some that propagate a false narrative about a “runaway convention”, or somehow
“losing the constitution” through this process. This can quickly and easily be debunked as
either ignorance of the process, or worse a level of disingenuousness.

State legislatures, such as this one, establish the parameters for the convention. Delegates
that do not adhere to the wishes of the legislature can, and should, be recalled and replaced at
any time.

Finally, the work product of the convention is non-binding until ratified by 3/4 of the states.

Based on this, we can see that State Legislatures, such as yourselves, have control of the
process from the beginning, through the convention, to the final step of ratifying any proposed
amendments. Therefore, it is impossible for them, for you, to somehow lose control.

Our constitutional amendment process is difficult, and requires a great investment of time, but
well worth the effort. Through this process we have established an end to slavery; guaranteed
freedoms of religion, speech, and press; the right to bear arms, and the right for all people to
vote regardless of race and gender.

One of the most important amendments, in my opinion, is that powers not specifically given to
the Federal government are given to the States, and to the people.

In summary, our constitution is stable and strong. Our country is as well as long as it adheres
to this governing document. We need to continue to strengthen the constitution by using it as
designed such as the Constitutional Amendment processes found in Article V.

Therefore, please support SJ2.

Thank you.

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Created:	2025-05-30 21:27 GMT
Updated:	2025-05-30 21:27 GMT
Published:	2025-05-30 21:27 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 12:35 GMT
Change Author:	Sarah Santana
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