On Wednesday, three separate bills related to a proposed Constitutional Convention are being heard in committee. While two of the bills have some differences, at their basis, they are calls for an Article V Constitutional Convention. The third seeks to impose powerless rules over delegates to such a convention.  

The U.S. Constitution provides two ways to propose amendments, one through ratification through Congress and then the States, and secondly, a Constitutional Convention.  

Common Cause Nebraska is calling on legislators to reject these dangerous proposals that would put all our constitutional rights at risk and to honor a 2022 legislative compromise that lets our current convention bill sunset in 2027.  

“These bills are perfect hypotheticals that already hint at trouble if a constitutional convention were to ever occur. There is no way to ensure faithful delegates, a narrow scope or anything promised by supporters of these bills. The last time we had a constitutional convention, the delegates ripped up the old document and spent months coming up with something new. That’s exactly how a new convention could work.  Take Nebraska’s own history on this topic. In 2022, Senators made a deal to put a 5-year sunset clause on this legislation and to leave the issue alone until 2027. If Nebraska Senators can’t even keep their promise from 3 years ago, what does that tell you about a Constitutional Convention?” said Gavin Geis, Common Cause Nebraska Executive Director.