As the legislature advances SJR 21, a resolution calling for an Article V Constitutional Convention to implement federal term limits, Common Cause Indiana and other democracy allies are warning Hoosiers of the dangers of such a move.  
 
As one of two ways to amend the U.S. Constitution, an Article V convention is a complete unknown. While legislators may want to limit the topic to just term limits, there is no guarantee any convention would follow a narrow focus. Also, since Indiana legislators do not operate under term limits it would be inappropriate for them to enact this reform for themselves before forcing Congress to do so.    
 
“The last time a constitutional convention was called, the delegates ripped up our country’s governing document and came up with something entirely new. Because of that, an Article V convention is a dangerous threat to all Americans’ constitutional rights and civil liberties. Because there is no way to limit a convention’s focus, any Constitutional issue could be brought up, including freedom of speech, civil rights and civil liberties, voting rights, privacy rights, among others. Legislators should reject this reckless attempt to take Hoosiers into uncharted waters and threaten our U.S. Constitution,” said Julia Vaughn, Executive Director of Common Cause Indiana.  
 
More than 230 organizations oppose this method for amending the U.S. Constitution, including Common Cause.  
 
Additionally, Indiana passed a Convention of States Article V resolution in 2016, making SJR21 duplicative and unnecessary for its stated purpose.