Should the Courage Campaign call for a Constitutional Convention?
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We believe California is at a crossroads. The economy and the political stalemate will only get worse unless we fix Sacramento. To fix Sacramento, we need the kind of structural change that can only come from a revised California Constitution.
The Courage Campaign is therefore considering asking the state legislature to convene a Constitutional Convention for California, which would open up a formal process to enact significant structural changes in our government -- just as our Founding Fathers did in 1787. We think it is imperative that such an important decision only be made with the support of our members and our allies in the progressive movement.
Q: How would a California Constitutional Convention work?
A: Article 18 of the California Constitution explains the convention process. First, the legislature must vote to put a proposition on the ballot to call a convention, and a majority of voters must approve that proposition. If the convention call is approved by voters, within 6 months there will be a convention. Delegates to the convention will be chosen by the voters based on districts. The convention does not have the authority to actually change the Constitution itself - only the voters can actually ratify Constitutional changes. What the convention does is debate and refine proposals, and agree on what will be submitted to voters.
For example: If the Legislature puts a convention proposition to voters in March 2009 and it is approved by the voters, the convention must begin no later than September. Between March and September Californians would vote to send delegates to the convention. The convention would likely take several weeks to thoroughly deliberate proposals, and present a document to voters by the end of 2009. At an election in 2010 - perhaps the June 2010 primary - voters would be asked to approve the proposed changes.