Steve Spitzer MT Testimony: Adherence to Amendments

Attachment: 4641/Steve_Spitzer_MT_Testimony_-_Adherence_to_Amendments.docx

Adherence to Amendments

Mr. Chairman and Committee Members

My name is Steve Spitzer, COS volunteer from HD38.

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 runaway 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 amendments is part of the brilliant and durable design of our Constitution.

Please support HJ5.

Thank You.

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Created:	2025-03-11 17:42 GMT
Updated:	2025-03-11 17:42 GMT
Published:	2025-03-11 17:42 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 12:35 GMT
Change Author:	Daniella Landivar
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